A fire has reportedly broken out at the John F Kennedy International Airport in New York.

According to reports from local media outlets, the incident caused alarm among passengers who were waiting to board the aircraft.

But then all of a sudden, a giant plume of black smoke filled the airport, making it hard to see and breathe.

Officials whisked passengers onto the tarmac as a part of an evacuation plan. Shocking images were shared on the X app and many couldn’t help but wonder what or where the smoke or fire was present.

Flights were delayed as passengers were sent to the tarmac and then bussed away from the scenes of heavy smoke. It was later confirmed that the fire had arisen at an escalator in Terminal 8.

A video showed how police cars were rushing to the runway as a giant group of passengers stood with their luggage by their side and waited for more instructions to be given. In another clip that was posted online, one X user showed how several giant fire trucks were witnessed driving by them and stopping near two planes.