‘We reached 10,000 feet—and all of a sudden there was this loud boom’: Woman flies JetBlue from New York to Florida. Then the cabin fills with smoke
A passenger on JetBlue flight 543, which experienced engine failure after leaving Newark Airport for West Palm Beach on Wednesday, recounts the scary moment she realized something was wrong.
In a video with over 4 million views, TikToker Carley (@carley_hannah) says she heard a “boom” and saw one of the plane’s engines go up in flames from her window seat.
“It starts to smell like fire. The flight attendants grab fire extinguishers and they’re running up and down the aisle,” she recounts.
Carley says the cabin filled with smoke, and passengers crouched to breathe the safer air near their feet. Some put on masks or covered their face with their clothing. In a follow-up video, Carley explains that oxygen masks didn’t deploy because there wasn’t a change in cabin pressure.
“The pilots come on the speaker and say, ‘We have engine failure. We’re going back to Newark,'” she says. “Flight attendants are crying.”
The plane safely lands despite the engine failure and is quickly surrounded by fire trucks that put out the blaze. Then, the flight crew tells passengers to quickly evacuate.
“Everybody tears off their seatbelts and start stampeding to the front and to the back,” she continues. “We get to the front and the flight attendant is like, ‘Go on the slides!'”
Carley and other passengers have to slide out of the plane’s exits onto the tarmac. According to ABC News, no injuries were reported.
What happened after the JetBlue passengers evacuated?
After all passengers made it off the plane, they were bused back to the terminal, where they were greeted by two gate agents. Carley says that JetBlue only offered $12 vouchers at first.
As airport workers begin to bring the JetBlue passengers’ luggage back to the gate, Carley receives an email that she’s been rebooked on another flight that leaves just 15 minutes later.
“They told us that they’re gonna hold the plane for everybody that’s getting on that flight,” she says.
Carley puts on a brave face after her traumatic first flight and gets on the new one.
“I’m at the airport. The odds of it happening again were not high,” she says.
Carley shares that JetBlue ultimately offered $150 plus a refund as compensation for the scary experience. She also received an Uber voucher, which she says did not work.
The TikToker’s plane troubles didn’t end when she made it to her destination. She shares in another TikTok that her flight home to Newark was also cancelled due to winter weather.
Viewers praise the TikToker for her courage
In the comments of Carley’s TikTok, viewers commend her for braving a second flight after the jarring experience.
A viewer remarks, “There isn’t enough Xanax in the world to help me in this situation.”
“As a flight attendant I want to thank you for telling your story AFTER rather than recording during the evacuation. This is how you share your experience without endangering others,” a second writes.
“I fear I would never fly again this is my worst fear glad you’re okay,” another adds.
A fourth suggests, “Getting back on a plane immediately is a brilliant move to help combat ptsd. Proud of you!”
Other airline workers praise JetBlue’s response.
“As a flight attendant, the fact that you full blown evacuated and then made it on a connecting flight the same night is absolutely INSANE in the best way possible. My airline could never,” one writes.
@carley_hannah My flight experience last night from Newark airport to West Palm Beach on JetBlue flight 543. Everything seemed fine until we were 10,000 feet in the air and heard a large boom and the plain shake. This is what I experienced. @JetBlue #jetblue #jetblueflight543 #newark #westpalm ♬ original sound – Carley
The Mary Sue reached out to Carley via email and TikTok direct message and to JetBlue via email for further comment.
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