A JetBlue aircraft headed to Florida was forced to return to Newark airport Wednesday evening following engine problems during takeoff. All passengers and crew safely evacuated the plane using emergency slides after pilots reported smoke in the cockpit.
Operations at Newark Liberty International Airport faced delays Wednesday evening when a JetBlue aircraft experienced mechanical problems during departure and had to make an emergency return.
JetBlue Flight 543, an Airbus A320 destined for West Palm Beach, Florida, encountered engine trouble shortly after takeoff around 5:55 p.m. Eastern Time. The flight crew detected smoke in the cockpit and made the decision to head back to Newark immediately.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, all passengers and crew members safely exited the aircraft on a taxiway using emergency evacuation slides. Airport officials confirmed that no one sustained injuries during the incident.
The emergency situation prompted the FAA to temporarily halt some incoming flights to Newark while crews responded to the scene. Federal investigators will now examine what caused the engine malfunction on the Florida-bound flight.