Escalator Fire at JFK Airport Leads to Terminal 8 Evacuations and Minor Injuries

An escalator fire at JFK Airport's Terminal 8 early Wednesday morning resulted in the evacuation of nearly 1,000 passengers and minor injuries to nine individuals. The incident caused significant disruption, but operations have since resumed.

The fire occurred around 7 a.m., with the FDNY responding promptly to reports of smoke in Terminal 8. The source of the smoke was identified as an escalator in Concourse C, which had caught fire. The fire department remained on site throughout the morning to manage the situation.

As a precaution, nearly 1,000 people in the vicinity of the escalator were evacuated and transported to another area within the terminal. Photos and videos from the scene showed large groups of passengers gathered on the tarmac. Nine individuals were treated for smoke inhalation, with four taken to the hospital for further care. All affected passengers are expected to recover.

Operations in Terminal 8 were disrupted but resumed later in the morning. JFK Airport advised passengers to check with their airlines for updates, as flight schedules were impacted. Among the airlines operating out of Terminal 8 are American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas. American Airlines reported the cancellation of three flights due to the evacuation.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.