Toddler takes a ride on Newark Airport's luggage conveyor belt, airport officials say
A toddler took a ride on the baggage conveyor belt all the way from the ticketing desk to the baggage room at Newark Liberty International Airport before being rescued and caught by officers.
The two-year-old reportedly slipped behind the JetBlue ticketing counter inside the New Jersey airport's Terminal A on May 28 shortly before 6:30 p.m. and hopped onto the conveyor belt luggage system, according to Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Authorities quickly sprang into action and located the child in the checked baggage room on the lower level. Daily News reported responding officers also hopped onto the conveyor belt to follow the child during the rescue.
The child was not injured, authorities said, and though medics were requested as a precaution, the child's parents declined further medical attention.
No further information was available, and it is not known if the toddler was a girl or boy and if the family made it to their flight.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
What to know: Could Newark's trouble affect your summer travels?
Wednesday's incident was not the first time a child found themselves in a precarious situation at the airport.
In 2021, a 9-year-old boy, who had wandered away from his family, had climbed onto an airport luggage belt at Minneapolis Airport where he had gotten pulled inside, ABC News had reported. While Delta staff stopped the belt to rescue him, the boy escaped to another belt, which took him to the screening area. Video footage from the incident showed him crawling out and jumping down.
Earlier, in 2019, a two-year-old toddler took a ride through Spirit's baggage system at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, climbing over bags and passing inside an X-ray machine before going down a ramp into a large baggage screening room where TSA agents found him and called for help USA TODAY previously reported. The child suffered a fractured hand and cuts to his arm.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Toddler rescued after conveyor belt ride at Newark Airport
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Mega Millions winning numbers for June 6: Jackpot rises to $223 million
The Mega Millions jackpot took place on Friday, June 6 at 11 pm ET for an estimated $223 million, and if someone matches all six numbers, they will have the option of a one-time cash payment of $99.4 million. There have been three Mega Millions winners this year, with the most recent being the April 18 win in Ohio of a $112 million jackpot. Before then, a lucky lottery ticket holder in Illinois took home a $344 million jackpot on March 25, while another lucky person hit the Mega Millions jackpot on Jan. 17 for $113 million. Here are the winning numbers from the Mega Millions drawing on Friday, June 6, 2025. Mega Millions winning numbers for 6/6/25 The winning numbers for Friday, June 6 are 16, 40, 54, 56 and 57. The Mega Ball is 3. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Winning lottery numbers are sponsored byJackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Did anyone win the Mega Millions? Any Mega Millions winners will be posted here once announced by lottery officials. To view the list of past winners,visit the Mega Millions website. How to play the Mega Millions To play the Mega Millions, you have to buy a ticket. You can do this at a variety of locations, including your local convenience store, gas station, or even grocery store. In some states, Mega Millions tickets can be bought online. Once you have your ticket, you need to pick six numbers. Five of them will be white balls with numbers from 1 to 70. The gold Mega Ball ranges from 1 to 24. If you're feeling especially unlucky or don't want to go through the hassle of picking, you can ask for a "Quick Pick" or an "Easy Pick.' These options let the computer randomly generate numbers for you. Mega Millions tickets now include a built-in multiplier, which increases non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four, five, or 10 times. Before, players had to pay an extra dollar to add the "Megaplier"; now it's free. There are 15 Megapiler balls in all: 2X, five balls 3X, six balls 4X, three balls 5X, one ball Where can you buy lottery tickets? Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets. You can also order tickets online throughJackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer. Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). for full terms. Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
FAA caps flights at Newark Airport to cut delays through 2025
The Federal Aviation Administration finalized new air traffic restrictions at Newark Liberty International Airport, saying that arrivals and departures would be limited to 34 each per hour through Oct. 25, 2025. Arrivals and departures at EWR will be further reduced on weekends from Sept. 1 through the end of the year to accommodate airport construction. The FAA previously signaled it was planning to reduce traffic at Newark in response to weeks of delays caused by equipment outages and staffing issues that hampered the airport's capacity. "The confirmed reduced rates will maintain safety while alleviating excessive flight delays at the airport due to staffing and equipment challenges. The early completion of runway construction at the airport that added to the delays will also contribute to a more efficient operation," the FAA said in a statement. "Working with airlines and the airport, the limited arrival rate already paid dividends over the Memorial Day holiday with smooth travel into and out of Newark." United Airlines, which operates a major hub at Newark, touted the airport's on-time rate over the previous week. "Newark (EWR) is the most reliable airport in the New York City area this week," the airline said in a statement. United noted that 79% of its departures from Newark were on time between June 2 and June 5, while 88% of arrivals landed at Newark on time, and 90% of the airline's flights departing Newark arrived at their destinations on time. At a press conference announcing the early completion of a runway reconstruction project at the airport, alongside Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, United CEO Scott Kirby said that travelers in and out of Newark will be able to take advantage of great airfare deals this summer. "We did get well behind on bookings because of the perception issues around Newark recently, so that means more seats are available, which means the fares are better than they're probably going to ever be in the years to come, so now's the time to book your vacation if you want to go to Europe or you want to head across the country," he said. Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Newark flight? FAA reduces traffic to improve on-time performance
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
What is Eid al-Adha? Why is it celebrated? The Islamic holiday explained
Eid al-Adha, a period of "communal enjoyment" for Muslims worldwide, is officially underway. Over two billion Muslims are currently, or preparing, to celebrate the "Feast of Sacrifice," a major Islamic holiday that commemorates a profound act of faith. The festival, which spans a couple of days, is marked by prayer, the ritual sacrifice of animals and feasts. One of the most significant and well-known traditions is Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, which every Muslim has to do once in their lifetime. "Just as Christians perform the communion in honor of the sacrifice of Jesus [Christ] and they have bread and wine together, the flesh and blood of Jesus. Muslims do this sacrifice in honor of the sacrifice of Abraham, of his son, which is either Isaac or Ishmael," Mohsen Goudarzi, assistant professor of Islamic Studies at the Harvard Divinity School, said in a Thursday interview with USA TODAY. Here's what to know about the Islamic holiday, including when and how it is celebrated. Eid al-Adha commemorates Prophet Abraham's commitment to his faith, as he was "willing" to sacrifice his son. Traditionally known as Ishmael, because God asked him to. God intervened at the last moment, presenting a ram to be sacrificed in the son's place. Eid al-Adha, regardless of the day, always falls on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, the final and most sacred month of the Islamic calendar. This year's "Feast of Sacrifice," specifically the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, began at sunset on June 5, authorities in Saudi Arabia recently confirmed to Al-Jazeera. The date provided by the Saudi Arabian government holds relevance to those who are making the Hajj."Around the world, people do [observe] this far from Mecca, they just face the Meccan sanctuary during their prayers and rituals," Goudarzi said. Muslims who are not participating in the Hajj, or holy trip, typically observe Eid al-Adha starting June 6. The date of Eid al-Adha may also vary from country to country. "If people in Iran, for example, or in Indonesia or in Pakistan, their government can say, 'You know what the 10th day is this Friday. And so, this is the day when we come together, those who are not going to Mecca, which is the vast majority of the public,'" Goudarzi said. "They would get to define which day is the festival." Though devotion plays an important role in how Muslims observe Eid al-Adha, there is also room to come together and have fun. "The whole festival is very much geared towards communal enjoyment," Goudarzi said. While the day may start off with a special prayer service at a mosque, Muslims make time to visit with loved ones on the "Feast of Sacrifice," exchanging greetings, gifts "Eidi" and food, including homemade sweets. Muslims also follow the way of the Prophet Muhammad, also known as Sunnah on Islam, by engaging in certain practices on Eid. (Sunnah is followed every day, not only on Eid.) Some of these practices include taking a bath or shower in the morning, wearing one's best clothes and perfume, taking a different path home from attending Eid prayer, or saying 'Takbeer' ("Takbir") to praise God on the way to Eid prayers. Those with the means may present a Qurbani, or animal sacrifice, comparable to the sacrifice that Prophet Abraham was willing to make. Goats, cows, sheep, lambs and camels are some of the animals permitted to be sacrificed. "If you can afford it, you can perform the sacrifices, or have some people perform the sacrifice on your behalf and distribute the meat, either for yourself and for charitable purposes," Goudarzi said. While the participation in the Qurbani and the consumption of the Qurbani is not required, it is encouraged. The meat from the Qurbani is split three ways: one-third for you and yours, one-third for family and friends and one-third for the needy. Some Muslims go to slaughterhouses that practice zabiha, the prescribed method of slaughter for halal animals for their Qurbani sacrifice or donate to charities that distribute meats to communities affected by food insecurity. "Generally, the highlight is really the 10th day, when you go to a mosque, oftentimes the big mosque in your town or city, and you perform the rituals and you come together and so on," Goudarzi said. "It does have a very festive atmosphere." Contributing: Mariyam Muhammad, The Columbus Dispatch, part of the USA TODAY Network This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Eid al-Adha: The Isalmic holiday's origins, traditions
