Key Takeaways
• A 2-year-old was rescued from a luggage conveyor belt at Newark Airport on May 28, 2025.
• Port Authority officers followed the child on conveyor belts, stopping before the child reached an X-ray machine.
• Officials are reviewing security measures to prevent unauthorized access to luggage conveyor systems.
A 2-year-old child was rescued after a dangerous ride on a luggage conveyor belt at Newark Airport’s Terminal A on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. The incident happened when the toddler slipped away from his mother, who was busy rebooking a JetBlue flight. The child managed to get behind the JetBlue ticketing counter and onto the moving conveyor belt, which is usually reserved for checked bags. Within minutes, the child was carried through the airport’s complex baggage handling system before being found safe in the checked baggage room on the lower level.
Port Authority Police Officers Angel Paulino and Joe DeSilvio responded quickly after a JetBlue employee raised the alarm. The officers jumped onto the conveyor belt themselves, following the child’s path through the maze of moving belts and machinery. The search lasted about four minutes, ending just before the toddler would have entered a powerful X-ray machine. Emergency Medical Services checked the child, who was found unhurt, and the parents declined further medical attention.
This event has raised serious questions about airport safety, especially for families traveling with young children. It also highlights the hidden dangers in areas of the airport that are usually off-limits to passengers.
How Did the Incident Happen?
The incident took place at Newark Liberty International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the United States 🇺🇸. The child’s mother was at the JetBlue counter, trying to rebook a flight. In the brief moment her attention was elsewhere, her toddler slipped behind the counter and onto the luggage conveyor belt. These belts are designed to move checked bags from the ticketing area to the baggage handling system, which is a network of moving belts, diverters, and scanners.
A JetBlue employee noticed the child and immediately alerted airport security. Officers Paulino and DeSilvio responded without hesitation. They entered the conveyor system themselves, risking their own safety to find the child. The officers tracked the toddler through the system, which includes sharp turns, drops, and powerful mechanical parts.
The officers found the child just before he would have entered an X-ray machine, which could have caused serious harm. The quick response of the JetBlue staff and Port Authority officers prevented a potential tragedy.
What Makes Luggage Conveyor Belts So Dangerous?
Luggage conveyor belts at airports like Newark Airport are not designed for people, especially not for small children. According to Keith Jeffries, vice president for K2 Security Screening Group, “It’s extremely dangerous. You’ve got diverters back there that are actually these gigantic pushers or levers, if you will, that will shove those bags down the appropriate conveyor belt, and that alone can be fatal for a small child.”
Key dangers in the baggage handling system include:
- Mechanical diverters: These are large, moving arms that push bags onto different belts. They are strong enough to move heavy luggage and could easily injure a child.
- Sharp turns and drops: The belts twist and turn, sometimes dropping bags from one level to another.
- X-ray machines and scanners: These machines use strong radiation to scan bags for security threats. Passing through them could be very harmful to a person.
- Moving parts: The belts and rollers can trap clothing, fingers, or limbs, causing serious injuries.
The system is built for speed and efficiency, not for safety if a person enters by mistake. That’s why it’s so important for airports to keep these areas secure and for travelers to keep a close eye on their children.
Past Incidents at Other Airports
Unfortunately, this is not the first time a child has ended up on a luggage conveyor belt at a U.S. airport. Similar incidents have happened in recent years, showing that this is a risk at many airports, not just Newark Airport.
- Minneapolis Airport, 2021: A 9-year-old boy wandered away from his family and got onto a luggage belt. Delta staff stopped the belt, but the boy managed to get onto another one before being found in the screening area.
- Atlanta Airport, 2019: A 2-year-old child went through the Spirit Airlines baggage system, passing through an X-ray machine before being found by TSA agents. That child suffered cuts and a fractured hand.
These incidents show that even with security measures in place, children can sometimes find their way into dangerous areas. It also highlights the need for constant vigilance by both airport staff and parents.
Official Response and Security Measures
After the incident, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey released a statement on social media: “Two Port Authority cops rescued a toddler who wandered onto a luggage conveyor belt in Terminal A, Newark Liberty International Airport. The cops, realizing the danger the child was in, without hesitation, entered the conveyor system and, after about four minutes, located the child who was headed for an X-ray machine.”
Newark Airport officials have not commented further on the specific incident. However, the quick action of the Port Authority officers has been widely praised. Their response likely prevented a much more serious outcome.
Security experts and airport officials are now reviewing procedures to see how such incidents can be prevented in the future. This may include:
- Adding more barriers or locked doors around conveyor belt areas
- Increasing staff presence near ticketing counters
- Using cameras and alarms to detect unauthorized access
- Reminding parents and guardians to keep children close at all times
Newark Airport’s Recent Challenges
This incident comes at a time when Newark Airport is already facing several challenges. In April and May 2025, the airport experienced major disruptions due to air traffic control problems. Equipment failures and staff shortages led to many flight delays and cancellations, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) limited the number of takeoffs and landings.
On top of that, all U.S. airports, including Newark Airport, have recently started enforcing new REAL ID requirements. As of May 7, 2025, travelers aged 18 and older must show a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another acceptable form of identification, such as a passport, at TSA security checkpoints. This change is part of a federal effort to improve security and reduce the risk of terrorism.
For more information about REAL ID requirements and acceptable forms of identification, travelers can visit the official TSA REAL ID page.
Newark Airport has also upgraded its security systems in recent years. Terminal A, where the incident took place, received advanced CT scanners at most checkpoints after a major renovation in 2023. These scanners provide better images of bags and help TSA officers spot threats more easily. However, as this incident shows, even with new technology, there are still areas where safety can be improved.
What Does This Mean for Travelers?
For families and other travelers using Newark Airport or any major airport, this incident is a reminder of the importance of staying alert, especially with young children. Airports are busy, noisy places with many distractions. It’s easy for a child to wander off, even for a moment.
Practical tips for families traveling through airports:
- Keep children within arm’s reach: Hold hands or use child harnesses in crowded areas.
- Explain airport rules: Teach children not to go behind counters or touch equipment.
- Watch for distractions: If you need to focus on paperwork or tickets, ask another adult to watch your child.
- Know where to get help: Point out uniformed staff or police officers to your children so they know who to approach if they get lost.
For airport staff and airlines like JetBlue, this incident highlights the need for regular training on child safety and emergency response. Staff should know how to spot and respond to children in restricted areas quickly.
Airport Security and Immigration: The Bigger Picture
While this event did not involve immigration law directly, it does connect to broader issues of airport security and the movement of people through international gateways like Newark Airport. Airports are responsible for keeping all travelers safe, whether they are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or visitors from abroad.
Key points for immigrants and international travelers:
- Stay aware of your surroundings: Airports can be confusing, especially if you are not familiar with U.S. procedures.
- Keep travel documents handy: With new REAL ID rules, make sure you have the right identification ready for TSA checks.
- Follow airport signs and staff instructions: If you are unsure where to go, ask for help rather than trying to find your own way into restricted areas.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, airport safety is a shared responsibility. Travelers, airport staff, and security officers must all work together to prevent accidents and keep everyone safe.
What Are the Next Steps for Newark Airport?
After this incident, Newark Airport and other major airports are likely to review their safety procedures. This may include:
- Reviewing access control: Making sure only authorized staff can enter areas with moving machinery.
- Improving physical barriers: Adding gates, doors, or alarms to keep passengers away from dangerous equipment.
- Increasing staff training: Teaching employees how to spot and respond to safety risks, especially involving children.
- Updating emergency plans: Making sure all staff know what to do if a child or other person enters a restricted area.
For travelers, the most important step is to stay alert and keep children close. For airport officials, the focus will be on closing any gaps in security that could allow similar incidents in the future.
Conclusion: Lessons for All Travelers
The rescue of a 2-year-old from a luggage conveyor belt at Newark Airport is a powerful reminder of the hidden dangers in busy public spaces. While the child was unharmed, the incident could have ended very differently if not for the quick action of JetBlue staff and Port Authority police officers.
Key takeaways for travelers:
- Always keep a close watch on children in airports and other crowded places.
- Be aware of restricted areas and follow all posted signs and instructions.
- If you see something unsafe, alert airport staff immediately.
For airport officials and airlines:
- Regularly review and improve safety procedures, especially around dangerous equipment.
- Train staff to respond quickly to emergencies involving children or other vulnerable travelers.
- Work with federal agencies to ensure all security upgrades protect both passengers and staff.
Airports like Newark Airport play a vital role in connecting people across the United States 🇺🇸 and around the world. Keeping these spaces safe for everyone—especially the youngest travelers—must remain a top priority.
For more details on airport security and travel requirements, visit the Transportation Security Administration’s official website.
By learning from incidents like this, airports and travelers can work together to make air travel safer and more secure for all.
Learn Today
Luggage Conveyor Belt → A motorized system that transports checked bags from ticket counters to baggage handling areas.
Port Authority Police → Law enforcement officers responsible for security at transportation facilities like airports.
X-ray Machine → A device using radiation to scan baggage for security threats inside airports.
REAL ID → A federal identification standard required for TSA checkpoints, effective May 7, 2025.
Diverters → Mechanical arms on conveyor belts that push luggage onto different paths within the system.
This Article in a Nutshell
On May 28, 2025, a toddler slipped behind a JetBlue counter at Newark Airport onto a luggage conveyor belt. Quick response by officers saved the child from dangerous machinery and an X-ray machine. This incident highlights urgent safety concerns for children around airport baggage areas.
— By VisaVerge.com
