-

WestJet Flight Attendants Ensure Passenger Safety During Suspected Landing Gear Failure in St. Maarten

Calgary, AB--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CUPE 8125, representing WestJet flight attendants, is commending the professionalism and swift action of crew members following a suspected landing gear failure on WestJet flight 2276 at Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) yesterday.

At 17:29 UTC, the aircraft experienced what is being described as a landing gear failure and emergency protocols were immediately undertaken. Cabin crew oversaw the rapid deployment of slides and safely evacuated every passenger. Emergency services responded quickly, and all guests and crew were transported to the terminal with no reported injuries.

“Yesterday’s events are a powerful reminder of the essential role flight attendants play in keeping passengers safe,” said Alia Hussain, President of CUPE 8125. “When seconds matter, our members are trained to take charge, lead evacuations, and ensure that every passenger is cared for. Safety is not an add-on to our jobs. It is the very core of what we do.”

Hussain emphasized that flight attendants often perform their most critical safety duties outside of paid time. “This includes pre-flight safety checks, boarding procedures, and, when the unexpected happens, life-saving actions like those taken yesterday. This must change. Our critical work deserves recognition and fair compensation.”

CUPE 8125 extends gratitude to the crew of Flight 2276 and to emergency personnel for their skill, professionalism, and commitment to protecting lives, and reaffirms its demand that safety work should never be unpaid or undervalued.

:clc/cope 491

Contacts

Erin Rolfson, Communications Representative
erolfson@cupe.ca | 587.982.0418

Industry:

Canadian Union of Public Employees

Release Versions
English

Contacts

Erin Rolfson, Communications Representative
erolfson@cupe.ca | 587.982.0418

More News From Canadian Union of Public Employees

New Alliance to raise the alarm on the offshoring of Canadian telecommunications jobs

OTTAWA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Representatives from the Canadian Telecommunications Workers Alliance – a coalition of unions representing tens of thousands of workers in the sector – will hold a press conference to launch their campaign to protect Canadian jobs from outsourcing, and to protect Canadians’ privacy and sovereignty. WHERE: OTTAWA – National Press Theatre, 180 Wellington Street, Room 325 WHEN: February 11, 9:30 AM WHO: Lana Payne, Unifor National President Marty Warren, United Steelworker...

CORRECTING and REPLACING “More than 700 nursing and PSW job cuts in Ottawa:” New report warns of longer wait-times and declining quality of care due to health care funding plan

OTTAWA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Day of conference should read: 10:00 a.m., Friday, February 13 (instead of 10 a.m., Wednesday, February 13). The updated release reads: “MORE THAN 700 NURSING AND PSW JOB CUTS IN OTTAWA:” NEW REPORT WARNS OF LONGER WAIT-TIMES AND DECLINING QUALITY OF CARE DUE TO HEALTH CARE FUNDING PLAN CUPE media conference on February 13 A new report warns that the provincial government’s funding plan for the next three years will have severe consequences for the health care system in...

New Alliance to raise the alarm on the offshoring of Canadian telecommunications jobs

OTTAWA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Representatives from the Canadian Telecommunications Workers Alliance – a coalition of unions representing tens of thousands of workers in the sector – will hold a press conference to launch their campaign to protect Canadian jobs from outsourcing, and to protect Canadians’ privacy and sovereignty. WHERE: OTTAWA – National Press Theatre, 180 Wellington Street, Room 325 WHEN: February 11, 9:30 AM WHO: Lana Payne, Unifor National President Marty Warren, United Steelworker...
Back to Newsroom