Monday, March 17, 2025 Tensions rose at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on March 8, 2025, when communication between a JetBlue pilot and an air traffic controller (ATC) deteriorated into a heated exchange. The incident involved JetBlue flight B6815, an Airbus A321 scheduled to depart for San Francisco.
At the time, several aircraft were waiting in two separate queues for departure from runway 31L, with some positioned on taxiway Z and others on the inactive runway 22L. As the planes converged at the taxiway junction, the pilot perceived confusion regarding the correct order of aircraft. The pilot began the exchange by suggesting that an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft was not moving forward because the crew was unsure of the correct sequence.
The pilot radioed to the tower, stating that the Ethiopian Airlines crew was holding back due to uncertainty about the sequence and potential conflict with another aircraft. When asked to identify the aircraft, the pilot clarified, explaining the situation at the merger point between the taxiway and the runway. The controller dismissed the concerns, explaining that the Ethiopian Airlines crew had been instructed to follow the aircraft ahead and were aware of their position in the sequence.
Dissatisfied with the explanation, the pilot continued to argue that the Ethiopian Airlines crew had no clear understanding of their position. The exchange escalated when the controller, in a sarcastic tone, asked if the pilot would prefer to t.
