Smoke in cabin forces JetBlue passengers to evacuate on taxiway, temporarily shutting down newark airport
Evening operations at Newark Liberty International Airport were disrupted Wednesday after a JetBlue Airbus A320 returned to the airport with smoke in the cockpit, forcing an emergency evacuation on the taxiway and a temporary pause in arrivals. The aircraft landed safely and the airport reopened after the plane was removed and passengers were assisted off the aircraft.
What happened on the flight
The flight departed Newark around 5: 45 p. m. ET but quickly turned back after the crew experienced an engine failure and later reported smoke in the cockpit. The Federal Aviation Administration said the airplane landed safely and, after exiting the runway, the crew used emergency slides to evacuate passengers. Emergency responders surrounded the aircraft on the tarmac as crews moved people away from the plane.
There were 122 passengers on board. One person was taken to a local hospital after reporting chest pains; officials have not indicated the severity of that condition. Passengers described hearing a loud bang during the flight and then being told the plane would return for an emergency landing. Several passengers said they could see and smell smoke near the cockpit area during the descent.
Airport operations and passenger impact
Officials paused some arrivals while the aircraft was cleared from the taxiway, and operations were suspended during the evacuation to protect those on the runway. The Port Authority noted that an automatic shutdown occurs when passengers use emergency slides on the tarmac to ensure safety. Flight activity at the airport resumed around 7: 00 p. m. ET once the plane was removed and the scene was secured, though delays were expected to ripple through the evening schedule.
Passengers described a chaotic but ultimately orderly evacuation. Many said emergency slides were deployed and passengers exited quickly, moving away from the aircraft as directed by crew and emergency personnel. Some travelers reported being shaken but grateful for the swift response of the flight crew and ground teams.
Investigation and airline response
JetBlue said safety is its top priority and that the airline is focused on supporting customers and crew while cooperating with federal authorities investigating the incident. The Federal Aviation Administration said it will investigate what occurred around 5: 55 p. m. ET.
Aircraft evacuations and on-ground emergencies trigger coordinated responses among airline crews, airport authorities, and federal investigators. Authorities will inspect the aircraft systems, review crew actions and communications, and assess any maintenance or mechanical factors that may have contributed to the engine issue and subsequent smoke report.
Travelers scheduled at Newark were warned to expect delays after the disruption. The airport and airline will provide further updates as the investigation progresses and more information becomes available about the cause of the smoke and the extent of any damage.
