Additional Coverage:
- JetBlue flight makes emergency landing after plane loses altitude, passengers injured (abcnews.go.com)
JetBlue Flight Diverted to Tampa After Mid-Air Incident, Several Passengers Injured
A JetBlue flight en route from Cancun, Mexico, to Newark, New Jersey, was forced to make an emergency landing in Tampa, Florida, on Thursday after experiencing a sudden drop in altitude. The unexpected event resulted in injuries to several passengers, according to statements released by the airline.
Upon landing at Tampa International Airport, some of the injured individuals were transported to local hospitals for medical attention. Pilots informed air traffic controllers that at least three passengers sustained injuries, potentially including lacerations.
Despite calm weather conditions in the area at the time of the incident, the flight crew reported a “flight control issue” as the cause of the sudden altitude change and subsequent injuries.
The aircraft, an Airbus A320, was originally bound for Newark Liberty International Airport. It has since been grounded as both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and JetBlue launch investigations into the matter.
This remains a developing story, and further updates will be provided as they become available.