What happened
On 16 February 2023, a Boeing 737-7CT, registered as C-GWCN, was operating flight WJA1447 from Harry Reid International Airport (KLAS) in Nevada to Edmonton International Airport (CYEG) in Alberta. The aircraft was carrying 109 passengers and 5 crew members. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft was positioned along the right edge of Runway 01R. As the plane accelerated, the right nosewheel struck 8 runway edge lights.
The flight crew did not realize the aircraft had been misaligned or that contact with the lighting infrastructure had occurred. The flight proceeded to its destination in Alberta, where it landed without further incident. There were no injuries to the passengers or the crew.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the takeoff alignment and the subsequent damage to airport property. Following the flight, WestJet Airlines Ltd. maintenance personnel identified minor damage to the right nose landing gear tire. As a precaution, both nosewheel tires were replaced before the aircraft returned to service.
Regarding the runway infrastructure, the airport operator at KLAS did not identify the damage to the edge lights until 32 hours after the takeoff. The airline was notified of the damaged lights 8 days after the event occurred.