Jetblue Emergency Landing Caused by Blown Engine: 'I Recited the Lord's Prayer,' Says 'Twilight' Actor (PHOTOS)
A JetBlue emergency landing occurred Thursday morning over the Pacific Ocean after leaving Long Beach, California just 15 minutes earlier. Passengers were frightened as smoke filled the cabin, but fortunately the captain managed to steer the airplane back to Long Beach Airport with just one engine functioning.
The JetBlue emergency landing was necessary because one of the engines aboard the flight blew, the airline stated. Flight 1416 was carrying 147 passengers to Austin, Texas when the right engine burst into flame, scaring passengers.
The pilots deployed fire extinguishers, but the smoke was so thick that passengers couldn't see even the people next to them. Flight attendants went around pulling down the oxygen masks that for some reason didn't deploy automatically when the plane began to pitch and rumble wildly.
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"Everyone was crying," passenger Dean Delbaugh told CNN. "I thought this was it."
"Twilight" actor Jackson Rathbone was aboard the flight with his wife and young son, and he detailed how he relied on his faith when he was afraid.
"I recited the Lord's Prayer as I held my son and my wife in my arms," the actor wrote on WhoSay. "The pilot came on the PA and let us know we lost the right engine."
"We were told to brace as we careened sharply back towards land. Guided by our pilot, and I believe our guardian angels, we landed safely," Rathbone continued. "We landed safely. It wasn't even all that rough, honestly. I just couldn't stop kissing my family and thanking my God."
"Thank you Jesus and the pilot of this plane," he added.
Once they landed, passengers threw open the emergency door and exited the plane via inflatable slide, KCAL reported. All those aboard were debriefed on exactly what happened, and anyone who wanted to continue to Austin was put on another flight.
"The airplane landed safely, and all customers and crew have evacuated via slides," JetBlue said in a statement, adding that the runway at Long Beach would be closed temporarily.
Four people were injured and one was taken to the hospital following the emergency landing.
