JetBlue Flight Diverts to Kansas After Smoke Alert, Passengers Safe
A JetBlue flight transporting passengers to San Diego diverted from its planned route and made an emergency landing at a regional airport in central Kansas Saturday evening.
Pilot Reports Smoke in Cockpit
The Airbus plane flying from New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport had landed due to smoke in the cockpit, a representative of the Salina Airport Authority told KSNW, the NBC affiliate in Wichita, Kansas.
Pilot’s Alert and Investigation
“The pilot came on and let us know that he was seeing an alert for smoke in the cargo bay,” said Seth Odell, a passenger on the flight. “Some passengers did report hearing a loud bang, too,” he added.
Emergency Response and Evacuation
Fire crews from Salina Fire Department were dispatched to the airfield at 6:20 p.m. CT Saturday evening, about 10 minutes prior to the flight landing, according to Salina Fire Battalion Chief Derrick Herzog.
All 130 passengers and crewmembers onboard the flight were offloaded safely without injury, Herzog added.
JetBlue’s Statement on Incident
NBC 7 reached out to JetBlue on Saturday and provided the following statement on Sunday:
“On Saturday, September 21, JetBlue flight 1189 diverted to Salina, Kansas, when the pilots received an alert that there might be smoke in the cargo hold, descending safely and landing without incident. Upon inspection, we determined the smoke indication presented to our pilots was a false indication.”
Update and Resolution
Passengers were waiting for a new plane to fly to them before continuing to San Diego, according to the Salina Airport Authority.
JetBlue responded to passengers via social media:
“Since this isn’t an airport we service, it may take a little more time for plans to be implemented,” the airline responded to Odell’s post on X. “You’ll need to wait for an airport crewmember for assistance. Please know that decisions are all made with safety as our number one priority. We appreciate your patience,” it added.
Investigation and Conclusion
The Federal Aviation Administration released a statement about the incident:
“JetBlue Airways Flight 1189 landed safely at Salina Regional Airport in Kansas around 6:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, Sept. 21, after the crew reported smoke in the cargo area. The Airbus A320 departed from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and was headed to San Diego International Airport. The FAA will investigate. Please contact the airline for more information.”
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and quick response in aviation safety.
FAQs
Q: Why did the JetBlue flight divert to Kansas?
A: The flight diverted due to an alert of smoke in the cargo hold.
Q: Were there any injuries reported?
A: No, all 130 passengers and crewmembers onboard the flight were offloaded safely without injury.
Q: Is the incident under investigation?
A: Yes, the Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the incident.
Q: How is JetBlue handling the situation?
A: JetBlue has stated that the smoke indication presented to their pilots was a false indication, and they are working on resolving the situation to continue their passengers’ journey.
