BOSTON (BN24) — A JetBlue flight arriving at Boston Logan International Airport veered off the runway and into a grassy area on Thursday afternoon, prompting a ground stop and emergency response but leaving all passengers uninjured, officials said.
JetBlue Flight 312, an Airbus A220 arriving from Chicago, landed around midday when it unexpectedly rolled off the runway and came to a stop on the grass, according to a statement from the Massachusetts Port Authority.
“JetBlue flight 312 from Chicago to Boston veered off the runway and onto the grass after landing,” the airline confirmed in an email. “We will conduct a full investigation of the incident and will work closely with the relevant authorities to understand the cause.”
Passengers were safely evacuated using mobile staircases provided by emergency responders and transported by bus to the terminal. Photos and video from the scene showed dozens of emergency personnel surrounding the aircraft as the disembarkation unfolded.
The runway remained closed for several hours following the incident while crews inspected the aircraft and airport operations. A temporary ground stop was also issued for inbound flights, airport officials confirmed.
The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation to determine what led to the runway excursion. No mechanical issues or weather-related causes have yet been disclosed.
The incident adds to a growing list of recent aviation safety concerns in the United States. Just hours earlier, an Air India flight bound for London crashed after takeoff in Ahmedabad, killing more than 240 people in one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters in recent memory.
Thursday’s runway incident in Boston comes as the FAA faces increased scrutiny over its oversight of air travel safety. A recent poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research indicated declining public confidence in the safety of flying.
