Smoke Forces JetBlue Passengers to Evacuate at Newark Airport

The incident temporarily shut down the airport as emergency crews responded.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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A JetBlue flight from Newark to West Palm Beach made an emergency landing on Wednesday evening after smoke was reported in the passenger cabin. The pilot called for an evacuation, leading passengers to exit the plane onto the tarmac and temporarily shutting down Newark Liberty International Airport as emergency crews responded.

Why it matters

Incidents involving smoke or other safety issues on commercial flights can pose serious risks to passenger safety and disrupt airport operations. This event highlights the importance of proper emergency protocols and the need for thorough investigations to determine the cause and prevent future occurrences.

The details

JetBlue flight 543, an Airbus A320 heading to West Palm Beach, reported an 'engine issue' and smoke in the cabin about 17 minutes after takeoff, prompting the pilot to make an emergency landing back at Newark. After landing, the pilot called for an evacuation due to the continued smoke, leading passengers to exit the plane onto the tarmac. This triggered a ground stop at Newark Airport until the situation was resolved.

  • The flight took off from Newark shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
  • The plane reported the engine issue and smoke about 17 minutes into the flight, leading to the emergency landing back at Newark.
  • The evacuation was called for just a few minutes after the plane landed, around 5:50 p.m.

The players

JetBlue

A major U.S. airline that operates the Airbus A320 aircraft involved in this incident.

Newark Liberty International Airport

A major airport located in Newark, New Jersey that was temporarily shut down due to this emergency situation.

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What they’re saying

“We're just going to exit the runway and have fire / rescue make sure the engine, number one engine, is OK.”

— Pilot (LiveATC.net)

“We got smoke in the back. We are going to have to be evacuating here in a second.”

— Pilot (LiveATC.net)

“Attention all aircraft, Newark Airport is closed.”

— Air Traffic Controller (LiveATC.net)

What’s next

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the cause of the engine issue and smoke that led to the emergency landing and evacuation.

The takeaway

This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of robust safety protocols and emergency response procedures at airports to protect passengers when unexpected situations arise during flights.