JetBlue flight 1189, carrying around 130 passengers, had departed from New York’s JFK airport for what was supposed to be a routine five-hour journey to the West Coast. However, the flight took a sudden and dramatic turn, leading to an emergency landing in Salina, Kansas, following a potential smoke alert in the aircraft.
Passengers on board reported hearing a loud bang, which immediately caused concern. Seth Odell, one of the passengers, recounted the harrowing experience to NBC affiliate KNSD, saying, “Some passengers did report hearing a loud bang.” This sound led to increased anxiety among the passengers, many of whom were visibly shaken by the situation. The plane, an Airbus A320, had been in the air for nearly three hours when the pilots received an alert of possible smoke in the cargo hold.
FlightAware maps tracking the journey of JetBlue 1189 showed the aircraft’s rapid descent, which occurred around two hours and fifty minutes into the flight. The plane dropped more than 30,000 feet in under ten minutes, going from an altitude of over 10,000 meters down to just a few thousand feet above the ground. For those on board, the experience was terrifying. Odell described the scene as “intense,” with some passengers beginning to “freak out” and others breaking into tears as the plane plummeted towards the Kansas ground.
Despite the panic on board, the plane landed safely at Salina Regional Airport. Fire crews rushed to the scene as the plane came to a halt on the tarmac. The response teams were prepared for the worst, but upon inspection, it was revealed that the smoke alert was a false alarm. “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,” a JetBlue spokesperson told The U.S. Sun. They added, “Upon inspection, we determined the smoke indication presented to our pilots was a false indication.”
After the emergency landing, passengers found themselves stranded at the small Salina airport, far from their intended West Coast destination. One passenger took to Reddit to share their experience, mentioning that despite the tense situation, local airport staff stepped up to make the situation more bearable. Reportedly, the airport workers ordered pizzas for the stranded travelers, an unexpected act of kindness that was much appreciated amid the chaos.
While the cause of the false smoke alert is still under investigation, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed that they will be looking into the incident. Despite the false alarm, safety protocols were followed to the letter, and no major issues were found with the aircraft upon its landing. The quick thinking of the crew and the calm handling of the emergency ensured that what could have been a disastrous situation ended safely.
The JetBlue scare comes just days after a Delta flight faced its own mid-air emergency. Passengers on a Delta flight heading to Portland, Oregon, experienced a pressurization issue that left some with bloody noses and a feeling of intense discomfort. One passenger, Jaci Purser, described hearing “air come out and then it started bubbling,” resulting in a painful experience for those on board. Despite the issues, the oxygen masks did not deploy, which left many passengers even more concerned. The flight had 140 passengers on board, and 10 people required medical treatment upon landing.
In another incident earlier this month, two jets collided at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport. A taxiing Delta aircraft struck a smaller jet that was preparing to head to Louisiana. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the incident raised further concerns about ground safety protocols at one of the nation’s busiest airports.
These incidents have put aviation safety back under the spotlight, with many questioning whether current protocols are sufficient to handle such emergencies. The FAA and airline companies have assured the public that safety is their top priority and that they are constantly reviewing and updating procedures to prevent such occurrences.
While the JetBlue incident ended without physical harm, the psychological impact on passengers is undeniable. The experience serves as a reminder of the importance of rigorous safety checks and effective communication between flight crews and passengers during emergencies.