A pilot from JetBlue Airways loudly expressed his frustration towards air traffic control above New York after his flight had to go around for the second time just before landing on Saturday, April 12, 2025. The pilot, clearly annoyed, shouted over the radio: “Hey man, this is the second time we’ve had to go around due to the spacing. We’re declaring minimum fuel now.”
The incident occurred during the approach of flight B61060, coming from Kingston, Jamaica, to John F. Kennedy International Airport, and highlights the tensions that can arise in heavy air traffic and tight fuel margins.
The Airbus A321 departed at 09:53 AM local time from Kingston, with a planned flight duration of about four hours. Due to the two go-arounds, the aircraft ultimately landed 35 minutes later than scheduled, at 02:47 PM, after a total flight time of 4 hours and 16 minutes.
According to recordings of the cockpit communication, the aircraft was sent around twice due to issues with the spacing between incoming flights. The pilot responded with frustration, to which the air traffic controller calmly replied and promised to get the aircraft back into the landing sequence as soon as possible. “Maintain 210 knots. We’ll get you back in as soon as we can,” was heard on the radio.
Despite the tense situation, the tone remained professional. Shortly after his outburst, the pilot apologized: “We don’t have much fuel left, and I was just frustrated. Sorry.” The air traffic controller responded understandingly: “No problem, I understand.”
The flight was ultimately landed safely without incidents or reports of injuries. JetBlue has not issued an official statement about the incident.
Declaring ‘minimum fuel’ means that an aircraft cannot accept further delays and must land quickly. It is not an emergency, but it is considered critical.
This is not the first time a pilot has had a tense exchange with air traffic control over New York. On August 27, 2024, there was a heated exchange between JFK air traffic control and a pilot of an Air France Airbus A350-900. After landing from Paris, the pilot used incorrect radio terminology when requesting to cross a runway, which the tower rejected. Later, air traffic control accused the aircraft of standing still on the runway, something the pilot denied. The communication was strained, with repeated comments from the tower directed at the pilot.