A JetBlue flight from Chicago veered off runway 33-L upon landing at Logan International Airport on Thursday, resulting in the aircraft coming to a stop in a grassy area. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the passengers. Following the incident, a ground stop was temporarily implemented but has since been lifted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the event.
JetBlue confirmed that their top priority is passenger safety and stated that they would collaborate with all relevant authorities to understand the cause of this incident. Passengers were safely deplaned using emergency vehicle stairs and then transported to the terminal via bus.
Reports indicated that emergency crews quickly surrounded the plane, and photographic evidence showed skid marks leading off the runway to where the aircraft halted. As a result of the incident, departing flights experienced delays averaging 30 minutes, while arriving flights faced delays of approximately two hours.
The affected JetBlue aircraft, an Airbus A220-300, took off from Chicago O’Hare International Airport at 8:41 a.m. Central time and landed in Boston at 11:49 a.m. Eastern time. At the time of landing, wind speeds at Logan fluctuated significantly, ranging from 18 to 40 miles per hour, which may have contributed to the aircraft’s deviation from the runway.
Earlier this year, a similar incident occurred on June 12, when another JetBlue plane ran off the runway at the same airport, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by aviation safety in adverse weather conditions.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of safety protocols in aviation, and it is reassuring that all passengers were unharmed and received prompt assistance. The investigation by the FAA will provide insights that could enhance safety measures for future flights.