960 passengers bused from JFK Airport terminal as escalator fire spews smoke

NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – An escalator caught fire and spewed smoke in a terminal at JFK Airport on Wednesday morning, leading to the transfer of hundreds of people to other areas, several injuries and flight disruptions, officials said.

The FDNY said it received a call just after 7 a.m. about the fire in Terminal 8.

According to the Port Authority, which operates the airport, the escalator in Concourse C of the terminal “began showing smoke” around 7:15 a.m.

About 100 people in the immediate area were evacuated and bused to another area of the terminal, Port Authority said.

The agency later said 960 passengers were bused to other areas of the terminal. It's unclear if they included the 100 who were evacuated from the area near the escalator.

Four people were transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Port Authority said.

Citizen App video shows FDNY and Port Authority Police vehicles parked outside on the tarmac during the response. Video posted to X shows smoke in the terminal.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, Port Authority said.

Terminal operations had resumed an hour later, though some flight operations were impacted, according to officials, who urged travelers to check with their airline to determine their flight status.