Report of cockpit smoke forces Florida-bound JetBlue flight back to PR; passengers evacuated

Smoke forces JetBlue flight back to Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Puerto Rican officials say a JetBlue flight bound for Florida with 39 passengers on board was forced to return to San Juan after the pilot reported smoke in the cockpit.

Ports Authority director Alvaro Pilar said Flight 1762 was en route to Fort Lauderdale when it returned to Puerto Rico’s international airport shortly before 5 a.m. (4 a.m. EST; 0800 GMT) Saturday.

He said passengers evacuated the plane through emergency exits, but no one was injured. They were then placed on another plane that has already arrived in Florida.

Emergency officials did not find smoke in the cabin but are still investigating.