WestJet plane engine catches fire, investigators brought in

A WestJet plane departing from Calgary had an engine fail and then catch fire on Wednesday just after 9 a.m.

The WestJet Encore De Havilland DHC-8-400 was initially bound for Fort Chipewyan and had just two flight crew members and two flight attendants on board.

According to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), the fire was extinguished before the crew made an emergency landing back in Calgary.

TSB notes the plane’s right engine failed and then caught fire just after takeoff, and its crew quickly “declared an emergency.”

“The TSB has deployed two investigators to gather information and assess the occurrence. This will entail examining and documenting the aircraft, interviewing witnesses, and retrieving the flight data recorder, cockpit recorder, and other relevant components for analysis,” said TSB spokesperson Chad Krepski in an email to CityNews.

In a statement, a WestJet spokesperson says “…WestJet flight WR9820 travelling from Calgary to Fort Chipewyan to perform rescue flights to support the community’s evacuation efforts, experienced an engine compressor stall upon take off, resulting in the crew performing an engine shut down due to an engine fire indication.”

They add, “The crew followed all standard safety procedures and were able to safely contain any fire due to comprehensive operating procedures and engine design. As this was an aircraft positioning to Fort Chipewyan, there were no guests on board and at no point was the safety of our crew at risk.”