What happened
On 14 June 2018, a Boeing 737-700 operated by WestJet was performing a scheduled flight from Calgary, Alberta, to Vancouver, British Columbia. The aircraft was carrying 53 passengers and 5 crew members. During the initial climb, while the aircraft was passing through 9,000 feet, the flight crew was alerted by a cargo fire warning system.
In response to the alert, the crew declared an emergency and requested permission to return to Calgary. The aircraft landed safely at its departure airport. Following the landing, an inspection of the cargo hold was conducted, which revealed that a fire had occurred within the passenger baggage area.
The investigation
The TSB conducted a class 4 investigation into the event. Investigators examined the aircraft and the circumstances surrounding the fire warning. The inspection of the cargo compartment confirmed that the fire originated within the passenger luggage.