Plane returns to PBIA after losing engine part
A JetBlue plane taking off from Palm Beach International Airport and headed for John F. Kennedy Airport in New York early Sunday lost an engine cover and returned to the airport shortly afterwards.
According to PBIA spokesperson Lisa De La Rionda no one either on the plane, Flight 830, or on the ground was reported injured when the metal left engine cowling, several feet long, fell. The 6 a.m. flight was full, carrying 150 passengers and six crew
"There was some vibration on take off," De La Rionda said. "The pilot completed the take off and then returned to the airport."
De La Rionda said airport operations and fire rescue personnel recovered refuse from the cowling on airport grounds and then cleared the runway, R27 Right, for more traffic.
JetBlue spokesperson Jenny Dervin said the plane, an Airbus 320A, had been in the air a total of 18 minutes before landing again.
"It landed and made its way back to the gate under its own power," she said.She said the airline was investigating the cause of the mishap. Dervin said as of Sunday morning JetBlue had received no reports that any of the cowling had fallen off airport grounds. She said a replacement plane was flown to PBIA from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport and took off at about10:30 a.m.
"We very much regret the inconvenience to our passengers," Dervin said.
She said within 36 hour each passenger would receive an e-mailed voucher equal to a trip from PBIA to Kennedy.
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