WestJet flight diverted to Regina after smoke detected in cockpit
128 passengers transferred to other flights
A WestJet 737 bound for Ottawa from Calgary was forced to land in Regina Saturday morning, prompting a response from fire, EMS and police.
According to Dick Graham, CEO of the Regina Airport Authority, Flight #610 reported an emergency and landed in Regina at 11:14 a.m. CST.
There were 128 passengers and five crew members on board. Graham said everyone got off the plane safely.
WestJet officials said crew members detected smoke in the cockpit and made the decision to land the plane at the YQR airport.
Safe on the ground in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YQR?src=hash">#YQR</a>. Good job to <a href="https://twitter.com/WestJet">@WestJet</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WS610?src=hash">#WS610</a> crew for safe <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EmergLanding?src=hash">#EmergLanding</a>. now sitting in Gate B. Electrical smell near/in cockpit
—@keats87<a href="https://twitter.com/WestJet">@WestJet</a> staff were quick to get us some refreshments and food is on order. Just sitting inside the terminal now to hear more from them.
—@keats87They added passengers were being transferred to other flights since the 737 was being taken out of service for an inspection by maintenance crews.
"Whenever an emergency occurs, we very quickly begin our emergency procedures," Graham said. "That response was enacted very well."
He said emergency crews based at the airport and from the city arrived at the scene, including paramedics, police and firefighters.
"There wasn't need for any of them, everything is in good shape now," Graham said. "The passengers are being fed and [the] next steps are up to WestJet."
Regina police said city emergency crews provided support to the airport's fire department, noting in a statement Saturday afternoon that "the cause was determined to be a mechanical issue that was quickly handled by the airport".
With files from CBC's Dean Gutheil