Twilight actor tweets JetBlue plane emergency landing as engine 'explodes'
Twilight actor Jackson Rathbone has live tweeted the moment his JetBlue plane had to make an emergency landing - after an engine 'exploded' mid-air.
Rathbone, known for his role as Jasper Hale in The Twilight Saga, was on the Fight 1416 from Long Beach, California, to Austin, Texas, when the "right engine exploded" and the "cabin filled with smoke", reports the Independent.
The flight had only just departed for Austin, Texas, when it had to turn back after the engine overheated
Rathbone first described how the oxygen masks did not deploy, before going on to say he recited the Lord's Prayer as he held his son. Along with his wife and son, he then evacuated the plane via the emergency chute.
Read his live tweet account of the incident below:
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
Over the PA, the pilot yelled "Brace!" The stewardesses made it into a chant. I wrapped my arm around us. And we b... http://t.co/GHirpRTOvn
- 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
All 142 passengers were evacuated by slides. As they got off, Rathbone said simply: "We're safe. I'm grateful."
Back home, he tweeted that he was celebrating with some Champagne.
This is how we celebrate a near death experience at the Rathbone house.... a wine and champagne tasting. Boo ya. http://t.co/zeeGFB8vOh
- Jackson Rathbone (@JacksonRathbone) September 19, 2014
Another passenger on the plane later uploaded a video of the cabin filling up with smoke.
In a statement to MailOnline, a JetBlue spokesman said: "On September 18, the flight crew aboard flight 1416 reported an issue with the number two engine and returned to Long Beach Airport.
"The airplane landed safely, and all customers and crew have evacuated via slides with no reported injuries at this time."
The plane was later towed off the runway.
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