By Spencer Sterritt

Plane filled with smoke makes emergency landing in Nanaimo

Mar 20, 2018 | 2:33 PM

NANAIMO — A WestJet flight from Vancouver made an emergency landing as it flew into the Nanaimo Airport today after the cabin filled with smoke.

The 56 passenger plane was met by first responders on the tarmac and everyone got off safely with no injuries.

Passenger Addison Becker told NanaimoNewsNOW it took several minutes for the smoke to fill the cabin.

“We didn’t know what was going on and the stewardess didn’t know what was going on, so we had to wait. And we didn’t really get any updates as it got smokier and smokier and we started to descend quickly.”

Despite the lack of information and the smoke, Becker said passengers managed to remain calm while they were in the air. Once they’d safely landed and the doors opened, however, he said everyone on the plane started pushing and shoving to get out.

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“It was freaky but it wasn’t the worst thing that could happen,” he said. It’s a sentiment shared by many of the passengers at the Nanaimo Airport, who were provided a separate lounge and support from airport staff.

WestJet said it’s too early to know the cause of the fire.

Three flights, from Nanaimo to Vancouver, Vancouver to Comox and Comox to Vancouver, have been cancelled this afternoon as the plane is inspected.

Anyone flying to or from Nanaimo for the rest of the day is encouraged to check their flight status online for any other cancellations or departures.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit