Smoke causes WestJet plane to make emergency landing at Regina airport

A WestJet plane had to make an emergency landing at the Regina airport late Saturday morning.

WestJet confirms flight 610 from Calgary to Ottawa had to be diverted after crew members detected smoke in the flight deck.

Emergency crews including fire and EMS attended the scene.

Those on the flight were transferred to alternate flights so they could head off to their final destination.

WestJet said the original aircraft is being taken offline and will be inspected.

It has been determined the cause of the smoke was a mechanical issue.

At this point, we don’t know if anyone was injured.

Regina Airport Authority President and CEO Dick Graham said anytime a flight declares an emergency there is a strong response.

“Our response is the same, regardless of whatever type of emergency an aircraft might have.”

Graham said he is satisfied with the way the airport handled the emergency.

“We practice this type of emergency response procedure quite frequently, with the first responders that we’re partnered with and with our own staff and I must say it worked flawlessly.”

Graham added the airport will work closely with WestJet during what he called “the debriefing process” to find out what can be done better in the future.

Safe on the ground in #YQR. Good job to @WestJet #WS610 crew for safe #EmergLanding. now sitting in Gate B. Electrical smell near/in cockpit

— Mark Ramsay (@keats87) September 3, 2016

#WS610 We sat on the runway for a few minutes to assess and then taxied over to the gate. Disembarked through the front door like normal

— Mark Ramsay (@keats87) September 3, 2016

Lots of fire and medics out at YQR airport. pic.twitter.com/mSRTC0H4Oh

— Michael Joel-Hansen (@mjhskcdn) September 3, 2016

Passengers from plane are sitting in the pre boarding lounge #YQRAirport pic.twitter.com/te86zAFSc4

— Michael Joel-Hansen (@mjhskcdn) September 3, 2016