"Twilight" actor Jackson Rathbone and his family were among the passengers of a plane that made an emergency landing after one of its engines exploded mid-flight, according to The L.A. Times.
Rathbone, his wife Sheila Hafsadi and their two-year-old son Monroe boarded Flight 1416, an Airbus A320 aircraft, on Thursday traveling from Long Beach, California to Austin, Texas. About half an hour into the flight, at around 9:30 a.m. the pilot reversed course and landed the plane back in Long Beach.
A Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson told NBC News Los Angeles that the flight, which was also carrying 142 passengers and five crew members, suffered an engine failure from one of its two engines.
The 29-year-old actor detailed the incident the on WhoSay page, writing, "We were on jetBlue flight 1416 to Austin from Long Beach. Our right engine exploded and our cabin filled with smoke. The oxygen masks did not deploy, but the brave stewardesses came around and manually deployed them. It was rough, the plane was rocking."
He goes on: "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 lost the right engine. We were told to brace as we careened sharply back towards land. ... Over the PA, the pilot yelled 'Brace!' The stewardesses made it into a chant...I wrapped my arm around us. And we braced. Guided by our pilot, and I believe our guardian angels, we landed safely."
The passengers were evacuated from the plane via an inflatable slide and the main runway at the airport was shut down for several hours. No serious injuries were reported, however four people were treated on the scene and one individual was hospitalized after complaining of shortness of breath.
Thank you Jesus and the pilot of this plane. https://t.co/6XCKsQHc9Y
— Jackson Rathbone (@JacksonRathbone) September 18, 2014
