Source: Simon Hradecky | www.avherald.com

A Jetblue Airbus A320-200, registration N640JB performing flight B6-543 from Newark,NJ to West Palm Beach,FL (USA) with 128 people on board, was climbing out of Newark’s runway 04L when the crew declared emergency and levelled off at 10,000 feet reporting an engine (V2527) problem. Subsequently the crew donned their oxygen masks still at 10,000 feet advising, they had now smoke in the back of the aircraft, they had problems with the engine #1 (left hand), it emitted a pretty loud bang, an engine stall, but was okay now. The aircraft landed safely on Newark’s runway 04R about 15 minutes after departure. The aircraft vacated the runway and stopped clear of the runway on the turnoff, an emergency evacuation via slides commenced. There were no injuries.

The FAA reported: “After JetBlue Flight 543 safely returned to Newark Liberty International Airport and exited the runway, the crew reported smoke in the cockpit and evacuated passengers via slides. The FAA temporarily paused some arrivals to the airport and will investigate the incident that occurred around 5:55 p.m. local time on Wednesday, Feb. 18. The Airbus A320 was headed to Palm Beach International Airport in Florida and the crew reported an engine issue shortly after departing.”

The flight was cancelled.

The aircraft is still on the ground in Newark about 20 hours after landing.