Passengers had been evacuated through slides in an incident that briefly suspended flights at Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport in New Jersey, officers mentioned Wednesday.
JetBlue Flight 543 took off from the airport Wednesday night however “instantly returned to the airport attributable to engine failure,” the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey mentioned in a press release.
A JetBlue flight that needed to evacuate passengers through slides is seen at Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport in New Jersey, Feb. 18, 2026.
Alexandra Svokos
After the aircraft landed and exited the runway, the crew reported smoke within the cockpit and evacuated the passengers through slides, in keeping with the Federal Aviation Administration.
Flight operations had been briefly suspended whereas the plane was faraway from the taxiway, the Port Authority and airport mentioned.
The FAA issued a floor cease on the airport attributable to “plane emergency” that has since been lifted. Flight operations resumed at roughly 7 p.m. ET, in keeping with the FAA and the Port Authority.
Newark Airport suggested vacationers to examine with their airline for up-to-date info.
An airport management tower is seen at Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport, Could 6, 2025, in Newark, N.J.
Andres Kudacki/Getty Photos
The JetBlue flight took off at 5:43 p.m. ET for West Palm Seashore earlier than returning and touchdown safely at Newark, the Port Authority mentioned. No accidents have been reported right now, it mentioned.
“Security is JetBlue’s high precedence,” the airline mentioned in a press release. “We’re targeted on supporting our prospects and crewmembers and can work carefully with the suitable federal authorities to analyze what occurred.”
This can be a creating story. Please examine again for updates.
