6 WestJet passengers injured after flight diverted to Winnipeg due to threat
Flight 442 has landed, crew and passengers have disembarked
Six passengers were injured after a WestJet flight from Edmonton to Toronto was diverted to Winnipeg on Monday night due to an unspecified threat.
The airline says the passengers from Flight 442 were injured during the emergency evacuation from the aircraft, which landed at Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson Airport at about 8:40 p.m. CT Monday.
Six guests from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WS442?src=hash">#WS442</a> sustained injuries during the emergency evacuation. Those transported to hospital are being escorted by WestJetters.
—@WestJetIn a statement issued late Monday night, WestJet said the crew decided to use the emergency evacuation slides to get everyone off the plane as quickly as possible.
"Initial reports indicate six guests received non-life threatening injuries during the evacuation and were treated by emergency response officials on the ground," the airline said.
"A number were taken to hospital for further treatment, accompanied by members of WestJet's Special Assistance Team."
A number of fire trucks, ambulances and police vehicles were seen on the tarmac after the plane landed in Winnipeg.
A spokesperson for the Winnipeg Airports Authority told CBC News that passengers were being interviewed by police on Monday night.
WestJet says 54 passengers and five crew members were on board the diverted flight, which was a Boeing 737-700 aircraft.
.<a href="https://twitter.com/wpgpolice">@wpgpolice</a> have begun an investigation into the threat against <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WS442?src=hash">#WS442</a>. We will provide full support and cooperation.
—@WestJetFood and drinks have been provided to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WS442?src=hash">#WS442</a> guests <a href="https://twitter.com/YWGairport">@YWGairport</a> while each is interviewed by police about tonight's threat.
—@WestJetThe <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WS442?src=hash">#WS442</a> aircraft has been cleared by police. Following routine maintenance, safety and security checks, it will re-enter service soon.
—@WestJetAll guests from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WS442?src=hash">#WS442</a> have been released from <a href="https://twitter.com/YWGairport">@YWGairport</a>, and are being driven to nearby hotels. We wish all off them a pleasant sleep.
—@WestJetAll passengers are staying in Winnipeg overnight and will be continuing their journey to Toronto on Tuesday morning.
The passengers are expected to arrive in Toronto by 2 p.m. ET, according to the airline.
Neither WestJet nor the Winnipeg Airports Authority has specified what the threat was. The airport spokesperson could not say whether the threat was on board the aircraft.
It's not the first time a WestJet flight has been diverted in recent days.
On Saturday, Flight 391 from Halifax to Edmonton landed in Saskatoon after airport staff in Kincardine, Ont., received a threatening call saying a bomb was on board the aircraft.
- Saskatoon police investigating bomb threat on WestJet flight
- WestJet Flight 391 bomb threat call made to Kincardine airport
The call came in while the flight was en route to its intended destination. It landed in Saskatoon at about 9 a.m. CST and all passengers and crew members disembarked as a precautionary measure.
Saskatoon police later determined that there was no explosive device on board. Police are currently investigating and trying to trace that call.
WestJet statement
The following statement regarding WestJet Flight 442 was issued by the airline shortly after 11 p.m. CT Monday:
WestJet was advised of a threat to WestJet flight 442 from Edmonton to Toronto on June 29, 2015. The flight crew, in conjunction with our Operations Control Centre, made the decision to divert the aircraft to Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport.
In order to evacuate the aircraft as quickly as possible, the crew made the decision to deploy the emergency evacuation slides. Initial reports indicate six guests received non-life threatening injuries during the evacuation and were treated by emergency response officials on the ground. A number were taken to hospital for further treatment, accompanied by members of WestJet's Special Assistance Team.
All guests have now been sent to local hotels and will be re-accommodated on WestJet flights to Toronto in the morning with all guests arriving by 2 p.m. EDT tomorrow.
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