Smoke smell prompts return of flight to Jamaica

AFP FILE PHOTO

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A Florida-bound JetBlue airliner that had just taken off from a Jamaican airport was forced to return to the Caribbean island after people smelled smoke.

JetBlue said on its website that the Monday evening flight from Jamaica’s Norman Manley International Airport returned to Kingston “after a report of a smoke odor.” The flight to Fort Lauderdale had 98 passengers and returned to Jamaica some 15 minutes after takeoff.

The airline said six people who were aboard the plane were being medically evaluated but did not say why. The Jamaica Gleaner newspaper quotes local aviation official Alfred McDonald as saying those passengers were injured while exiting the plane.

Maintenance staff and officials from Jamaica’s fire brigade were inspecting the commercial jet.

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