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Passengers were evacuated via slides in an incident that briefly suspended flights at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, officials said Wednesday.
JetBlue Flight 543 took off from the airport Wednesday evening but “immediately returned to the airport due to engine failure,” the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said in a statement.
A JetBlue flight that had to evacuate passengers via slides is seen at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, Feb. 18, 2026.
Alexandra Svokos
After the plane landed and exited the runway, the crew reported smoke in the cockpit and evacuated the passengers via slides, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Flight operations were briefly suspended while the aircraft was removed from the taxiway, the Port Authority and airport said.
The FAA issued a ground stop at the airport due to “aircraft emergency” that has since been lifted. Flight operations resumed at approximately 7 p.m. ET, according to the FAA and the Port Authority.
Newark Airport advised travelers to check with their airline for up-to-date information.
An airport control tower is seen at Newark Liberty International Airport, May 6, 2025, in Newark, N.J.
Andres Kudacki/Getty Images
The JetBlue flight took off at 5:43 p.m. ET for West Palm Beach before returning and landing safely at Newark, the Port Authority said. No injuries have been reported at this time, it said.
“Safety is JetBlue’s top priority,” the airline said in a statement. “We are focused on supporting our customers and crewmembers and will work closely with the appropriate federal authorities to investigate what occurred.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
