Twilight actor Jackson Rathbone is a man of many things — a thespian, a musician, a husband, a father — but on Thursday morning he became a de facto reporter, giving the world the details from the scene after his JetBlue flight had to make an emergency landing when plane’s engines malfunctioned mid-air.
Flight 1416, an Airbus A320 aircraft, was carrying 142 passengers and five crew members when it took off in Long Beach, Calif. to Austin, Tex. and one of its two engines started spewing smoke while in the air, an Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson told NBC Los Angeles. The pilot reversed course and landed the plane back in the airport about 30 minutes after take-off.
Rathbone, his wife Sheila Hafsadi and their son Monroe were amongst those who were forced to evacuate the plane via inflatable slide when it landed.
At first, Rathbone shared an Instagram of his in-flight entertainment before the “right engine exploded and our cabin filled with smoke.”
Then, following the engine’s malfunction, Rathbone recounted his emergency landing in a series of tweets.
We were on @jetblue flight 1416 to Austin from Long Beach. Our right engine exploded and our cabin filled with smoke. http://t.co/QpvuAuoPDM
— Jackson Rathbone (@JacksonRathbone) September 18, 2014
The oxygen masks did not deploy, but the brave stewardesses came around and manually deployed them. It was rough, th… http://t.co/LaaTbGlGeU
— Jackson Rathbone (@JacksonRathbone) September 18, 2014
I recited the Lord’s Prayer as I held my son and my wife in my arms. The pilot came on the PA and let us know we los… http://t.co/izyrqaNRTn
— Jackson Rathbone (@JacksonRathbone) September 18, 2014
We were told to brace as we careened sharply back towards land. Guided by our pilot, and I believe our guardian ange… http://t.co/U1pclbtHtU
— Jackson Rathbone (@JacksonRathbone) September 18, 2014
We landed safely. It wasn’t even all that rough, honestly. I just couldn’t stop kissing my family and thanking my G… http://t.co/Qa2gJUnWI8
— Jackson Rathbone (@JacksonRathbone) September 18, 2014
The doors were thrown open, once on the Tarmac. The stewardesses yelled for us to get out and as far away from the a… http://t.co/6gTLwgcJJw
— Jackson Rathbone (@JacksonRathbone) September 18, 2014
I grabbed my son and jumped down the inflated ramp, my wife following. We left all our personal effects onboard. Who… http://t.co/1l7pk3Fa2A
— Jackson Rathbone (@JacksonRathbone) September 18, 2014
We’re safe. I’m grateful. http://t.co/ajCmhIJDv3
— Jackson Rathbone (@JacksonRathbone) September 18, 2014
In the bus. Passengers are getting angry. Everyone is still rattled. http://t.co/sdd14HrAPe
— Jackson Rathbone (@JacksonRathbone) September 18, 2014
From the bus, we all just followed one after another. I never felt so okay being a lemming. http://t.co/gKCPNqQ6X9
— Jackson Rathbone (@JacksonRathbone) September 18, 2014
When he was safely on the ground, Rathbone also snapped some photos of the plane and a few selfies with his “where are we going/don’t care we’re alive-face.” (Because, like, we’re in the social media age now.)
According to the 28-year-old actor, passengers were then escorted to a “‘sorry you’re plane’s engine exploded’ room” at the airport — ironically decorated with a mural spelling out “fun” in bold letters — before being handed a bag of chips and a form to fill out about their harrowing experience.
Rathbone and his family have since boarded a replacement JetBlue flight.
When you fall off a horse, You get back up. Here we go again @jetblue – trusting you. http://t.co/cM7Y77LdT9
— Jackson Rathbone (@JacksonRathbone) September 18, 2014
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