A JetBlue flight aborted takeoff Saturday on the runway at John F. Kennedy Airport after receiving reports of a fire on board, officials said.
The California-bound plane was preparing to depart around 8:30 p.m. when a crew member alerted the control tower to an apparent problem, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
The entire plane, carrying about 180 passengers, was evacuated while fire department personnel extinguished the fire, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said.
False reports began circulating online that the plane went off the runway and burst into flames. The FDNY arrived within minutes and found that nothing needed to be done as the ship was safe and there was no fire.
The problem with the Airbus 321 was determined to be an “engine problem,” but the FAA issued its ruling without providing details.
All passengers disembarked, but no one was injured.
JetBlue's maintenance team investigated the issue and it appeared to be resolved within a few hours.
The plane finally departed at 12:10 a.m., five hours after its original scheduled takeoff. Flight Aware data shows.
It is not clear how the mechanical problem was misinterpreted as a fire scare. JetBlue did not respond to messages left by the Post.
The FAA is investigating the incident.
The Airbus crash comes as authorities investigate repeated problems with 737 planes in the United States and abroad, including a panel falling off an Alaska Airlines jet.
