NEWARK, N.J. – Air traffic at Newark Liberty International Airport was briefly stopped Wednesday evening when a JetBlue aircraft made an emergency landing after smoke was detected inside the cockpit moments after takeoff, officials confirmed.
The incident involved JetBlue Flight 543, an Airbus A320 that had departed Newark for West Palm Beach, Florida. Federal aviation officials said the crew reported smoke in the cockpit shortly after departure, prompting an immediate return to the airport around 5:55 p.m.
JetBlue later said the aircraft landed safely following what it described as an “engine issue that produced smoke in the cabin.”
All passengers and crew were evacuated through emergency slides once the plane came to a stop on the taxiway, and no injuries were reported.
The airline said its team was assisting travelers following the incident and that it would cooperate with federal investigators. “Safety is always our top priority,” JetBlue said in a written statement.
Airport shuts down briefly after emergency landing
Newark Liberty temporarily suspended all flight operations at 6:35 p.m. as emergency crews responded to the disabled plane. The Port Authority said flights resumed about 25 minutes later, once the aircraft was cleared from the taxiway.
The brief closure caused minor ripple delays across evening departures, but airport officials said normal operations resumed quickly.
- JetBlue Airbus A320 returns to Newark minutes after takeoff
- Smoke in cockpit linked to possible engine malfunction
- No injuries reported; flights resumed within the hour
The Federal Aviation Administration is now investigating the JetBlue emergency landing in coordination with Newark Airport officials to determine what caused the mechanical problem.
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