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Passengers of a JetBlue flight were in for a scare after the plane tilted back on Sunday, October 22, 2023, at the JFK International Airport in New York City. Videos and images of the shocking incident circulating online show the nose of the plane pointing skyward while the tail end is touching the ground, looking like it's popping a wheelie.
As per Flightradar24, the incident took place at Terminal 5 just after 8 pm as the passengers of JetBlue Flight 662 were deboarding after their flight from Bridgetown, Barbados.
Explaining the cause of the shocking incident, Derek Dombrowski, a spokesperson for the airline company, stated:
"Once at the gate, due to a shift in weight and balance during deplaning, the tail of the aircraft tipped backward causing the nose of the aircraft to lift up and eventually return back down."
Ulli Haslacher, a woman aboard the aircraft at the time, told KTLA 5 that the crew took swift action and distributed the about 80 passengers onboard to stabilize the plane.
Needless to say, netizens reacted wildly to the incident.
"Good commercial for Chick-fil-A": Internet users react to JetBlue flight's wheelie
As news of the JetBlue aircraft's mishap spread, internet users were quick to express their shock. Some shared sarcastic quips to point out the error on the part of the staff. Others were relieved that it happened after the plane landed and not mid-flight.
Below are some reactions seen on X (formerly Twitter).
More about the JetBlue flight mishap
Ed Libassi, the CEO of A&P Aircraft Maintenance, Inc., wondered if "too much baggage was left in the cargo compartment" to cause the imbalance.
Luckily, no injuries were reported in the mishap, and an email from the airline stated that the JetBlue aircraft was taken out of service for inspection. Additionally, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey told the New York Post that there were no disruptions at the airport.
