A JetBlue flight from Newark makes an abrupt U-turn back to its origin after an engine failure, prompting a temporary halt to operations at Newark Liberty International. The Airbus A320 crew reported smoke in the cockpit and passengers were evacuated using life-sized slides, the FAA confirmed.
Flight 543 departed Newark for West Palm Beach around 5:45 p.m. but immediately returned when the engine issue arose, according to a statement from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Upon touchdown and exit from the runway, pilots reported cockpit smoke and activated the evacuation slides to remove passengers, the FAA added. Officials noted that the aircraft landed safely and there were no reported injuries.
Airline and airport teams temporarily paused flight operations to remove the aircraft from the taxiway; services were restored later in the evening, with the FAA and Port Authority indicating operations resumed around 7:00 p.m.
Travelers at Newark Airport were urged to check with their airlines for the latest schedules and gate information.
If you’d like to discuss this incident, do you think current engine inspection protocols are sufficient to prevent similar events, or should airports implement additional precautionary measures during takeoff and landing windows?
