JetBlue Airbus A321's Paris to New York Flight Turns into 3-Day Saga Due to Technical Issues
A JetBlue Airbus A321LR, initially scheduled for an 8-hour flight from Paris to New York, turned into a 3-day ordeal after encountering technical issues. The flight, which departed on July 11, faced two diversions before finally reaching its destination on July 14.
Initial Turnback
On July 11, the JetBlue Airbus A321LR, registered as N4076J and operating flight B61908, took off from Paris Charles De Gaulle International Airport (CDG) en route to New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Shortly after crossing over Ireland, the aircraft turned back to CDG due to a failure in the aircraft's fuel quantity indicator, which left the pilots unable to determine the remaining fuel. The plane, which departed Paris at 14:05 local time, landed back at CDG at 17:25.
Passenger Laurie Kilmartin shared her experience on social media, indicating the technical fault was the reason for the turnback. JetBlue has been approached for confirmation of the issue. The aircraft was then scheduled to fly out of CDG again on July 12.
Second Diversion
On July 12, during its second attempt to fly from CDG to JFK as flight B68108, the aircraft diverted once more, this time to Dublin Airport (DUB). After taking off from CDG at 16:17, the plane landed at DUB at 19:02 due to the recurrence of the same technical issue. Kilmartin reported this development via social media as well.
The aircraft finally departed Dublin for New York on July 14 at 8:29, successfully crossing the Atlantic and arriving at JFK at 9:54 local time.
Almost One-Year-Old A321LR
The JetBlue Airbus A321LR in question was delivered to the airline on September 28, 2023, and had accumulated 2,911 flight hours and 428 flight cycles as of June 2024. JetBlue operates 11 A321LR aircraft, with nine more scheduled for delivery. The airline also has 25 A321neo aircraft, with 27 additional A321neos set for future delivery.
This incident highlights the challenges airlines face with technical issues, even with relatively new aircraft. JetBlue's commitment to resolving these problems ensures the safety and reliability of its operations.