JetBlue Pilot Tells JFK ATC To Do His Job Better: Egos Were Bruised

Air traffic controllers at JFK are known for sometimes having an attitude. However, in this case, I think there’s enough fault to go around…

JFK ATC & JetBlue pilot get into it over… well, nothing

This incident happened on Saturday, March 8, 2025, and involves the communication between one of the pilots of JetBlue flight B6815, an A321 headed for San Francisco (SFO), and the tower controller at New York Kennedy Airport (JFK).

There were roughly a dozen planes awaiting departure from runway 31L. Planes were queueing in two different lines, with some on taxiway Z, and some on runway 22L (which wasn’t being used for departures or arrivals). There was a point where the planes were merging, and one of the JetBlue pilots in the queue seemed to think there was confusion regarding the order in which planes were supposed to merge onto the taxiway.

Specifically, the JetBlue pilot seemed to think that the Ethiopian Airlines jet queuing for takeoff wasn’t pulling forward all the way, because the pilots were confused about the correct order. That’s when the heated dialogue began:

JetBlue pilot: “They’re not pulling up because they don’t know your sequence, sir.”
Air traffic controller: “Say again?”
JetBlue pilot: “They’re not pulling up because they don’t know your sequence, sir. They’re afraid they’re gonna cut someone off.”
Air traffic controller: “Who’s speaking? I need a callsign.”
JetBlue pilot: “JetBlue 815, sir, there is a merger here, between a runway and a taxiway. They’re not sure, so they’re hanging back.”
Air traffic controller: “Okay JetBlue 815, I thank you for your input but they were instructed to follow the aircraft in front of them. So they are aware of their sequence.”
JetBlue pilot: “They have no idea if their sequence is behind or in front of the guy to their right.”
Air traffic controller: “Would you like to come and do the job for me?”
JetBlue pilot: “I’d just like you to do it better.”
Air traffic controller: “You’d like me to do it better, sir? I have a number for you to call when you’d like.”
JetBlue pilot: “That’s great. I’d love you to answer it.”

Several minutes later, shortly before it was the JetBlue plane’s turn to take off, the conversation continued as follows:

Air traffic controller: “JetBlue 815, do you need some more time, because we’re still waiting on you to call?”
JetBlue pilot: “I’m ready to go, sir.”
Air traffic controller: “No, are you still gonna call? Do you need some time? Or you’re ready to depart?”
JetBlue pilot: “I’m ready to depart. I was planning on calling you from the other side. I’m on an active taxiway. Wasn’t planning on making a phone call here.”

You can listen to the audio for yourself below, and see a visualization of the location of all aircraft.

Why do some men have to be so insecure?

Typically when I share air traffic control audio, there’s one side that’s a lot more at fault than the other. In this case, I think there’s enough fault to go around, and neither party is innocent. It should be more apparent than ever before that we need to have a good safety culture with accurate and clear communication.

The way I view this interaction:

• There was nothing wrong with the JetBlue pilot chiming in, if he thought there was confusion; however, he should’ve identified himself by the flight’s callsign, because his anonymous feedback came across as a bit peanut gallery-esque
• When the air traffic controller acknowledged the JetBlue pilot’s feedback, the JetBlue pilot shouldn’t have argued further, speaking on behalf of other pilots, and he certainly escalated things when he told the air traffic controller to do his job better
• Then there’s the whole pissing match over having a number to call; that seems unnecessary, as there wasn’t any pilot deviation here, but rather it seems like the equivalent of “oh yeah, I dare you to say that to my face”
• It’s ridiculous of the air traffic controller to expect the JetBlue pilot to call him from an active taxiway, rather than when the plane lands

Is it too much to ask for these two to just do their jobs, chill, try to be friendly, and to not actively seek out conflict?

Bottom line

A JetBlue pilot and a JFK air traffic controller got into a heated exchange. The JetBlue pilot tried to provide some feedback, but then egos were mutually bruised, and ultimately the JetBlue pilot suggested the air traffic controller should do his job better. That went over about as well as you’d expect…

What do you make of this interaction between a JetBlue pilot and JFK ATC?