A fractured rotor blade caused an engine surge and fire that forced a WestJet aircraft to divert to Kelowna, B.C., the Transportation Safety Board says in a report released Tuesday. The De Havilland Dash 8-400 turboprop was travelling from Kamloops to Calgary on March 3, 2023, with 74 passengers and four crew members aboard.

As the aircraft reached cruising speed, an engine fire warning sounded in the cockpit. The engine surged, followed by a fire in its exhaust duct. The crew declared an emergency, shut down the engine and landed safely at Kelowna airport using the other engine.

The board’s investigation found that a fractured rotor blade in the engine compressor caused the surge and power loss. The engine control system responded by increasing fuel flow, which set off the fire. Further inspections by WestJet identified two other engines with fractured compressor rotor blades.

In response, Pratt & Whitney Canada, De Havilland Aircraft and WestJet Encore Ltd. have introduced inspections intended to reduce the risk of rotor blade failures. The report does not identify any injuries. The Canadian Press first published its report on Sept. 22, 2026.

Based on reporting by CTV News Calgary.