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Newark Liberty International Airport briefly shut down Wednesday evening due to a reported “aircraft emergency” — effectively grounding all flights for about an hour.

The major airport issued a travel advisory, writing in a statement on X that all flight operations were “temporarily suspended while an aircraft is removed from the taxiway due to an earlier incident.”

The New Jersey travel hub was expected to be closed from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, but reopened just after 7 p.m.


  Newark Airport suddenly closed after a JetBlue airplane had to make an emergency landing. X/@KolHaolam Newark Airport suddenly closed after a JetBlue airplane had to make an emergency landing. X/@KolHaolam

A ground stop was originally in place from 5:42 p.m. to 7 p.m. for an “aircraft emergency” that was caused by an engine issue on the JetBlue flight, which was headed for West Palm Beach, Florida, the airline confirmed in a statement.

The plane was taking off from Newark Airport, but turned around and landed back on the tarmac just 40 minutes into the journey, according to FlightAware.


  Flights were grounded for approximately an hour. Christopher Sadowski Flights were grounded for approximately an hour. Christopher Sadowski

  On X, the airport posted that all flight operations were “temporarily suspended while an aircraft is removed from the taxiway due to an earlier incident.” X/@KolHaolam On X, the airport posted that all flight operations were “temporarily suspended while an aircraft is removed from the taxiway due to an earlier incident.” X/@KolHaolam

In a preliminary statement, the FAA confirmed that JetBlue Flight 543 “landed safely” after crews “reported smoke in the cockpit and evacuated passengers via slides” around 6 p.m. 


  The travel hub was reopened after 7 p.m., despite initial reports that the airport would be closed from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET. Christopher Sadowski The travel hub was reopened after 7 p.m., despite initial reports that the airport would be closed from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET. Christopher Sadowski

  The FAA later confirmed that JetBlue Flight 543 “landed safely” after 6 p.m.
 The FAA later confirmed that JetBlue Flight 543 “landed safely” after 6 p.m.

Video taken by other travelers stranded on the taxiway captured a fleet of emergency response vehicles parked on the tarmac. 

Another video taken by a passenger on the JetBlue flight showed passengers deplaning as firefighters directed them back toward the airport. 

The evacuation had caused the airport to temporarily shut down operations. Departing flights out of Newark still faced roughly hour-long delays after operations resumed, according to the FAA.

JetBlue said that they “will work closely with the appropriate federal authorities to investigate what occurred.”

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