JetBlue Flight Turns Newark Airport Into Smoke Sauna, Everyone Slides Out

KEY POINTS

•JetBlue flight 543 left Newark Liberty late at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday on a trip to West Palm Beach.
•Shortly after takeoff, engine issues caused smoke in the cabin, forcing the plane to return after a 20-minute air loop.
•Passengers evacuated safely via slides, and JetBlue is collaborating with federal authorities on the investigation.

On Wednesday, JetBlue flight 543 from Newark Liberty to West Palm Beach practiced the latest in aviation improv: emergency smoke loops. Departing 45 minutes late at 5:30 p.m. ET, the Airbus A320 decided it was too mainstream and sent smoky vibes through the cabin, immediately turning the journey into an unscripted thrill ride. The pilot chose the scenic route back, looping around Newark for about 20 minutes before staging a torchlight parade by showing off engine drama. Passengers and crew slid off via emergency slides like it was a fiery waterslide party — luckily, no one legally considered a burn victim yet. Meanwhile, JetBlue teamed up with federal agents to investigate what really caused the in-flight smoke sauna. Not to be outdone by JetBlue, United Airlines, Delta, and Frontier have recently squabbled over who gets the most dramatic emergency landing with themes like 'burning rubber' and 'engines alight,' making aviation 2025's unofficial sport: smoky landings. The FAA stayed silent, probably too busy updating their fire truck playlist.