Black smoke was observed billowing from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York following a fire incident on the airside of the facility. Images shared on social media captured a plume of black smoke rising near Terminal 8, with emergency teams visible at the scene.
A video footage depicted dense black smoke emerging from behind a security fence at the airport, resulting from a vehicle fire reported around 7:25 am local time or 12:25 UK time. An American Airlines tow truck caught fire, but it was swiftly put out by the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting team without any injuries or disruptions reported.
An airport spokesperson confirmed the incident, stating that the fire originated from an American Airlines tow truck at Terminal 8 (airside) of JFK Airport. The situation was swiftly handled by the Port Authority’s firefighting team, ensuring no impact on airport operations. The incident, as per social media timestamps, occurred around 12:46 pm GMT, five hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.
While the cause of the fire remains unknown, a video circulating online suggests it involved a vehicle, potentially an emergency services car, near some gates at the airport. Footage from the Citizen app shows plumes of black smoke rising from the area.
Efforts to obtain a comment from John F. Kennedy International Airport are ongoing. Reports from the Citizen social news platform pinpointed the fire’s location near Terminal 8, as showcased in video clips shared on the Citizen app.