Passengers were safely evacuated after a JetBlue flight returning from Chicago skidded off the runway at Logan Airport in Boston on Thursday, Fox News reported. No injuries were reported, but the incident is still under investigation.
"Safety is JetBlue’s top priority. We will conduct a full investigation of the incident and will work closely with the relevant authorities to understand the cause," the company said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
The aircraft had already safely landed but rolled off the runway onto the grass. The Federal Aviation Administration shut down the busy international airport for a time during the investigation, but later reopened.
Tom Kinton, the former CEO for the Massachusetts Port Authority, described a likely scenario. "It appears it went in at a low speed, the grass doesn't seem to be torn up, indicating that it was a very controlled speed that went in there, but clearly lost steering for some reason," Kinton said.
As CBS News reported, the pilot reported steering problems to air traffic control. "Yeah, so we had no steering on this runway here," she is heard telling the control tower in a recorded transmission.
While it could have been so much worse, it was still an unsettling scenario for unsuspecting airline passengers. Chicago resident Adam Glick said it was his "first real plane scare," but was grateful everyone was okay in the end.
"The pilot said she lost full control of the steering wheel, which is very alarming," Glick said. "You never know, something could have been worse," he added.
Another man on the plane similarly reported feeling worried as the plane pulled to the left after landing. "At first, no one really seemed super worried, it felt like a smooth landing," Drew Behmoiras said.
"But we fully went left, veered off the runway while we were still at full speed. Everyone's OK, thank God. Definitely not flying JetBlue for a while," Behmoiras said.
This latest incident comes on the heels of a catastrophic Air India crash that also happened on Thursday. According to The Hill, the plane took off from Ahmedabad headed for London when it crashed into a nearby building shortly after leaving the runway.
One survivor reportedly remained while another 241 perished in the fiery crash. "Most of the bodies have been charred beyond recognition," local state police official Vidhi Chaudhary said.
The survivor, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, was taken to an area hospital where he was examined by doctors. "He was disoriented with multiple injuries all over his body. But he seems to be out of danger," Dr. Dhaval Gameti told the press.
While the two are unrelated, it only adds to the uneasiness that some feel around air travel. Whether it is pilot error or equipment failure, neither crash does the airline industry's reputation any favors.
Aviation accidents have the potential to be anywhere from minor to catastrophic, as demonstrated by the two incidents that happened on the same day. The airline industry has work to do to maintain safety as its top priority.
