Newark, United States: A JetBlue Airways flight bound for West Palm Beach, Florida, made an emergency return to Newark Liberty International Airport on Wednesday evening after experiencing an engine failure and smoke in the cockpit, prompting the evacuation of all passengers and temporary disruption of airport operations.
JetBlue Flight 543, operated on an Airbus A320, departed Newark at approximately 5:45 p.m. local time, but returned to the airport shortly after takeoff when the crew reported a significant mechanical problem, officials said.
After landing safely and taxiing off the runway, the flight crew reported smoke in the cockpit and cabin. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel directed an emergency evacuation of passengers and crew via the aircraft’s emergency slides onto a taxiway.
Officials confirmed that no injuries were reported among the 122 passengers and crew members, though one passenger was briefly treated for chest pains at a local hospital.
The aircraft was subsequently removed from the taxiway to allow normal operations to resume. Airport authorities temporarily suspended flights inbound and outbound, issuing a ground stop that was lifted by around 7 p.m. local time.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates Newark Liberty International Airport, and the FAA did not immediately disclose the precise cause of the engine failure. The FAA confirmed an investigation into the incident is underway.
In an official statement following the incident, JetBlue emphasized that safety remains its highest priority, adding it is working closely with federal authorities as they review the sequence of events.
The emergency landing and subsequent evacuation briefly disrupted flight operations at one of the United States’ busiest aviation hubs. According to traffic tracking data, approximately 31% of arriving flights and 30% of departures at Newark were delayed during the disruption.
Airport authorities urged travelers to check with their airlines for the latest flight status information due to the ripple effects of the incident on scheduling and ground operations.
In a separate incident on Wednesday morning, Delta Air Lines Flight 2557, scheduled to depart from William P. Hobby Airport for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, was forced to return shortly after takeoff due to an unruly passenger whose actions prompted a police response.
According to law enforcement and airline officials, the flight carrying 85 passengers and five crew members lifted off at about 5:25 a.m. local time when a passenger began exhibiting “unruly and unlawful behavior,” including physical confrontations with others onboard.
The Houston Police Department was alerted after air traffic controllers reported that the individual attempted to approach the cockpit. While initial reports suggested a possible breach attempt, Delta Air Lines later clarified that the passenger did not make contact with or access the flight deck.
The aircraft returned safely to Hobby Airport by around 5:40 a.m., where officers detained the male passenger without further incident. No serious injuries were reported.
After the situation was resolved, the flight resumed service and later arrived in Atlanta approximately 90 minutes behind schedule. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed it will investigate.
