Newark Airport Reopens After Jet Blue Emergency

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Newark Liberty International Airport has reopened after a full ground stop due to an emergency aboard a Jet Blue flight. The Miami-bound flight experienced engine failure shortly after takeoff, forcing it to immediately turn around. Passengers had to evacuate the plane using slides as smoke was reported in the cockpit. The airport has since lifted the ground stop, but flights are experiencing major delays averaging 90 minutes.

Why it matters

Newark Airport is a major transportation hub in the Northeast, so any disruptions can have widespread impacts on air travel in the region. This incident highlights the importance of safety protocols and emergency response procedures at airports to ensure passenger wellbeing in the event of an in-flight emergency.

The details

The Jet Blue flight took off from Newark around 5:45pm but had to turn around immediately after experiencing engine failure. Passengers were evacuated from the plane using emergency slides as smoke was reported in the cockpit. The ground stop at the airport has since been lifted, but flights are still experiencing major delays averaging 90 minutes, down from a peak of 2 hours.

• The Jet Blue flight took off around 5:45pm on February 19, 2026.
• The ground stop at Newark Airport was lifted after the initial emergency.

What’s next

Investigators will likely examine the cause of the engine failure and review the airport's emergency response procedures.