JetBlue Flight Forced to Evacuate After Smoke Fills Cabin, Newark Airport Briefly Shuts Down

Passengers on a JetBlue flight bound for Florida experienced a tense midweek scare after smoke filled the cabin, forcing an emergency landing and evacuation at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Flight 543 departed Newark shortly after 5:30 p.m. Wednesday en route to West Palm Beach. But about 17 minutes into the flight, the Airbus A320 turned around following what the airline later described as an engine issue.

Air traffic control audio captured by LiveATC.net reveals the calm but urgent tone inside the cockpit.