JetBlue Engine Failure Disrupts Traffic at Newark

Air traffic at Newark Liberty International Airport was disrupted Wednesday evening after a JetBlue Airbus A320 experienced an engine failure during takeoff and returned to the airport, prompting an emergency evacuation.

JetBlue Flight 543 was departing Newark for West Palm Beach, Florida on Feb. 18, 2026, when the crew reported smoke in both the cockpit and cabin shortly after takeoff. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the aircraft returned to Newark as a precaution.

The aircraft came to a stop on a taxiway at approximately 5:55 p.m., where passengers and crew evacuated using emergency slides. JetBlue and the FAA confirmed that no injuries were reported among those on board.

Following the incident, airport operations were temporarily impacted. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said nearly all flights were halted for about an hour before normal operations gradually resumed around 7 p.m.

Flight tracking data indicated widespread delays. According to FlightAware, 31% of arriving flights — or 183 aircraft — were delayed, while 30% of departing flights, totaling 177, also experienced delays during the disruption.

The FAA confirmed it will investigate the engine failure and associated smoke reports to determine the cause of the incident. Engine-related emergencies are treated with heightened caution, particularly when smoke is detected in the cockpit or cabin, as crews must immediately assess potential fire or system malfunctions.

JetBlue said in a statement that safety remains its top priority and that the airline is focused on supporting affected customers and crew members. The carrier added that it will cooperate fully with federal authorities during the investigation.

Newark Liberty, one of the busiest airports in the New York metropolitan area, frequently experiences ripple effects from even short operational pauses, underscoring how quickly an isolated aircraft incident can affect broader traffic flow.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, huffpost.com, reuters.com