On Jan 2nd 2026, a WestJet Encore de Havilland Dash 8-400 experienced an unexpected and alarming loss of altitude shortly after departure from Vancouver, prompting cockpit warnings and urgent air traffic control intervention before the crew recovered the aircraft and continued safely to destination.
The turboprop, registered C-FKWE, was operating flight WS-3405 from Vancouver to Victoria and had just departed runway 08R, following the Stanley 5 Standard Instrument Departure. The aircraft climbed normally toward its initial cleared altitude of 2,000 feet and was about to level off when air traffic control issued a new clearance to climb to 4,000 feet and turn onto heading 170.
The flight crew entered the clearance into the flight guidance control panel, expecting the aircraft to continue climbing. Instead, the Dash 8 unexpectedly pitched down and began descending at a rate of about 2,200 feet per minute. Almost immediately, the cockpit was filled with a “Don’t Sink!” aural warning, while air traffic control received a low altitude alert and instructed the crew to expedite their climb.
Realizing the aircraft was not responding as intended, the crew attempted to arrest the descent using the flight guidance system. When that proved ineffective, they disconnected the autopilot and manually commanded a steep climb of approximately 3,600 feet per minute. The aircraft responded, recovered altitude, and soon leveled off at the cleared 4,000 feet.
With the situation stabilized, the crew continued the short flight to Victoria, where the aircraft landed safely about 15 minutes after departure. There were no injuries, and the flight concluded without further incident.
Canada’s Transportation Safety Board later classified the event as an incident and placed it under monitoring status, determining that a full investigation was not required. Despite the routine conclusion, the brief but dramatic reversal from climb to descent moments after takeoff highlighted how quickly automation surprises can develop — and how decisive crew action remains the final safeguard when systems do not behave as expected.
