Florida, United States: A JetBlue Airways flight traveling from Cancún, Mexico, to Newark, New Jersey, was forced to make an emergency landing in Tampa after a reported flight control malfunction caused a sudden loss of altitude on Thursday afternoon, hospitalizing at least 15 passengers.
Flight 1230, operated by an Airbus A320, was en route to Newark Liberty International Airport when it abruptly lost more than 14,500 feet in five minutes, followed by another rapid descent of over 12,200 feet within the next five minutes, according to flight-tracking data cited by Business Insider.
The aircraft diverted safely to Tampa International Airport, landing at approximately 2:19 p.m. ET. Emergency medical teams met the plane on arrival and transported injured passengers to nearby hospitals for treatment. Officials said the injuries were primarily non-life-threatening.
“JetBlue Flight 1230 experienced a flight control issue en route from Cancún to Newark and was diverted to Tampa for a safe landing,” the airline said in a statement. “Customers and crewmembers requiring medical attention were transported to local hospitals. The aircraft has been taken out of service for inspection.”
Local authorities confirmed that at least 15 to 20 individuals were evaluated at the scene. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue reported that three passengers suffered head injuries during the event.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it has opened an investigation into the incident, focusing on the reported flight control malfunction that triggered the rapid descent.
Weather conditions along the route were reportedly stable, and turbulence has not been cited as a contributing factor.
The airline has arranged alternate transportation for the remaining passengers to continue to Newark. The aircraft remains grounded at Tampa International for maintenance checks and data retrieval.
While mechanical malfunctions are rare, aviation safety experts note that the sharp altitude loss and subsequent safe landing highlight the importance of pilot training and quick decision-making in emergency scenarios.
The FAA and JetBlue’s internal safety team are continuing to investigate the cause of the incident. Preliminary findings are expected within the next several days.
