What happened
JetBlue Airways Flight JBU 876, an Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW with United States registration N267JB, departed Norman Manley International Airport (MKJP) in Kingston, Jamaica, on a scheduled service to Fort Lauderdale. The flight carried 98 passengers and four crew members.
Shortly after departing at approximately 18:43 local time on March 31, 2014, the cockpit crew detected a smell of smoke while climbing toward Flight Level 340. The captain declared an emergency with Kingston Centre Radar at 18:53 and diverted back to MKJP. Both pilots donned oxygen masks and initiated the Quick Reference Handbook procedure for cockpit smoke/fumes. The aircraft landed overweight at approximately 19:08 and was evacuated on the runway. All 102 persons on board were successfully evacuated, though one passenger sustained a serious injury and six others received minor injuries.
The investigation
The Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) conducted the investigation with accreditation from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The inquiry focused on the source of the smoke, the aircraft's maintenance history, and the emergency response procedures at NMIA.
Technical examination revealed that the left Air Cycle Machine (ACM) had failed. Crucially, investigators found that the connectors for the left pack outlet temperature sensor and the condenser inlet temperature sensor were cross-connected during previous maintenance. This wiring error prevented proper temperature monitoring and control of the air conditioning pack. The report noted seven prior instances where the left ACM was replaced on this specific aircraft due to smoke or burning smells since its entry into service.
The investigation also identified significant regulatory and procedural deficiencies at Norman Manley International Airport. These included the use of withdrawn emergency procedures by Air Traffic Control, lack of current aerodrome grid maps in the tower, insufficient training documentation for airport protection services, and the absence of a formalized Aerodrome Emergency Committee.
Findings
The primary cause of the smoke was the failure of the left Air Cycle Machine, exacerbated by the cross-connection of sensor connectors which impaired system monitoring. Contributing factors included JetBlue's analysis of recurring defects on this aircraft and the lack of fool-proof connector design by the manufacturer.
Operational safety was compromised by NMIA's non-compliance with Civil Aviation Regulations regarding aerodrome certification, emergency response planning, and staff training. The Jamaica Defence Force was also excluded from the national disaster action plan for sea incidents, highlighting broader coordination gaps.
Safety action
JetBlue Airways replaced the failed ACM components and corrected the sensor wiring. The airline implemented a fleet-wide inspection to prevent cross-connections on other ERJ 190s and modified Quick Access Recorder parameters for better health monitoring. Embraer issued a technical disposition for permanent repair and an optional service bulletin to improve harness routing.
The JCAA required NMIA to pursue aerodrome certification, formalize emergency response coordination with stakeholders, and ensure recurrent training for air traffic control personnel. The National Disaster Action Plan was amended to include the Jamaica Defence Force in sea incident responses.