A small engine fire on a WestJet flight at Vancouver Airport led to an emergency evacuation via slides. No injuries reported; federal probe underway.
Engine Fire Prompts Emergency Evacuation at Vancouver Airport
A routine landing at Vancouver International Airport turned tense late Saturday when a WestJet flight arriving from Tampa, Florida, experienced a small engine fire, prompting an emergency evacuation of passengers via inflatable slides.
Passengers Escaped Safely
Roughly 50 passengers were still on board the aircraft when the tailpipe fire began in one of the engines, shortly after the plane had shut down at the gate. According to WestJet spokesperson Julia Kaiser, no injuries were reported, and all passengers were safely evacuated using the plane’s emergency slides.
Fire Suppressed Quickly by Onboard System
The fire was swiftly contained by the aircraft’s onboard suppression systems, with additional support from YVR’s emergency response teams, said airport spokeswoman Chloe Reynaud. The aircraft was immediately taken in for maintenance, and no other flight operations were disrupted.
Federal Safety Investigation Underway
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has launched an investigation into the incident. Investigators arrived at the airport Sunday to assess the cause and review emergency response procedures.
Smooth Coordination Praised
Reynaud credited the rapid, coordinated response from airport personnel, emergency services, WestJet staff, and airport partners for ensuring passenger safety. “Passengers were reunited with their baggage and offered additional support as needed,” she said in a Sunday statement.
Operations at YVR Remain Unaffected
Despite the incident, Vancouver International Airport remains fully operational, with no residual delays or flight cancellations reported.
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