On Jan 26th, 2026, a WestJet Boeing 737-700, registration C-FWSV, operating flight WS-514 from Comox, BC to Calgary, AB (Canada) with 64 people on board, was forced to abort takeoff following an unexpected cockpit malfunction.
The aircraft was accelerating for departure from Comox Airport with the first officer acting as pilot flying when, during the takeoff roll, the first officer’s seat suddenly moved backwards. Recognizing the immediate risk to aircraft control, the captain took over and rejected the takeoff at approximately 120 knots indicated airspeed.
The aircraft decelerated safely and vacated the runway without further incident before returning to the apron. Passengers subsequently disembarked normally, and the flight was cancelled.
Canada’s Transportation Safety Board (TSB) reported that the event was caused by a malfunction of the seat locking mechanism. A maintenance inspection found excessive play in the seat control handle, which resulted in difficulty properly engaging the seat’s locking pins. The affected seat was removed and replaced, after which the aircraft was returned to service.
The incident highlights how even seemingly minor cockpit equipment failures can rapidly escalate into serious safety events during critical phases of flight, underscoring the importance of both mechanical reliability and decisive crew response.