Daily Aviation Brief - February 21, 2026

JetBlue Flight 543 Emergency at Newark Liberty (EWR)

• On February 19, JetBlue Flight 543, an A320 en route to Palm Beach, FL, reported smoke in the cockpit shortly after takeoff.
• The aircraft safely returned to EWR, and all passengers were evacuated via emergency slides with no injuries reported.
• Operations at EWR were temporarily halted, with a ground stop in effect until approximately 11 PM EST; the airport later reopened.
• The FAA is currently investigating the incident, which gained significant attention on social media.

Pelita Air Charter Crash in Indonesia

• On February 19, a Pelita Air charter plane crashed, resulting in the death of the pilot.
• Details surrounding the crash remain limited as investigations are ongoing.

Baramati Learjet Crash Update

• India's Ministry of Civil Aviation is set to release a preliminary report within 30 days regarding the Baramati Learjet crash.
• The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is examining flight recorders related to the incident.
• This crash is linked to an incident involving Ajit Pawar, though further context is unclear.

Other Notable Updates

• Regulatory/Trade: Canada has certified Gulfstream jets following threats of tariffs from former President Trump (Bloomberg, Feb 20).
• Industry: Embraer has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India's Hindalco for the production of aerospace-grade aluminum.
• Disruptions: Over 3,880 flight delays were reported across the US on February 21, particularly affecting major hubs like ATL, ORD, and EWR. American Airlines has issued a weather waiver for the Northeast due to an impending storm (Feb 22-23).
• Military Movements: There is a notable buildup of US tanker aircraft in Europe and the Middle East, with F-22s stationed at RAF Lakenheath and P-8A operations near Gibraltar.

No major new incidents have been reported in the last 24 hours (Feb 20-21). For live updates, follow aviation accounts such as @FAA and @Runway_Report12.