NEW YORK– A JetBlue Airways (B6) Airbus A320, operating flight JBU94 / B694 from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Westchester County Airport (HPN), was forced to divert to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) after holding for nearly an hour due to poor weather conditions over its intended destination.
The aircraft, registered N516JB, declared a fuel emergency while en route to JFK (JFK) following multiple delays and a go-around at Westchester (HPN). The flight landed safely on Runway 13L with emergency services on standby.
JetBlue Pilot Declares Minimum Fuel
Flight JetBlue 94 (B694) departed Orlando (MCO) bound for Westchester (HPN) but encountered deteriorating weather conditions during descent.
With limited visibility and turbulence reported, air traffic control placed the flight into a holding pattern for approximately 55 minutes. After attempting an approach and executing a go-around, the crew made the decision to divert to New York’s JFK Airport (JFK).
While coordinating with New York Approach, controllers inquired about remaining fuel, prompting the declaration of an emergency on behalf of the crew. As the aircraft neared JFK, the pilots confirmed a “minimum fuel” status and subsequently declared a fuel emergency to ensure priority handling on arrival.
The A320 continued to experience turbulence and wind shear during descent, but the crew maintained full control throughout the procedure. The aircraft landed safely at JFK’s Runway 13L, where emergency response teams were positioned as a precaution.
JetBlue Pilot and JFK ATC Comms
Here’s a detailed transcription of communication between the JetBlue pilot and the New York JFK ATC as flagged by You Can See ATC and recorded by LiveATC.net:
{ts:23}
ATC: JetBlue 94’s with the ILS 16.
ATC: 94 West Tower, welcome back.
{ts:30}
ATC: Runway 16 RVR more than 6,000, above touchdown, a rollout gain of 20 knots with moderate turbulence has been reported. However, I do have a Phenom on a two-mile final who will give me an update shortly. The winds are 110 at 21 gusting 26. It’s runway 16, clear to land.
Pilot: Clear to land 16, JetBlue 94.
{ts:56}
Pilot: If we need to go around, we’re going to need to go to JFK, 94.
ATC: Roger. I have your request, 94.
{ts:71}
ATC: Maintain 2,000 and continue flying your present heading.
Pilot: All right, 2,000, present heading, JetBlue 94.
{ts:83}
ATC: JetBlue 94, climb and maintain 3,000 and turn left heading 090, vectors for Kennedy.
Pilot: Heading 090, JetBlue 94.
{ts:102}
ATC: Maintain 3,000, and you can contact Departure.
Pilot: 3,000, going over to Departure, JetBlue 94.
{ts:109}
Pilot: 94 is with you, 2.3 climbing at 3,000.
{ts:121}
ATC: 94, welcome back. Altimeter 29.64 at Westchester. Tower said you’re likely going to JFK. Are you looking to divert to Kennedy now?
Pilot: That’s affirmative, 94.
ATC: Understood. You are cleared to JFK via radar vectors for now, and just continue your present heading. Maintain 3,000.
Pilot: Present heading, 3,000. We’ll expect radar vectors, JetBlue 94.
{ts:143}
ATC: The FE in front of you told me gain loss to 20. Is that about the same as you as well?
Pilot: That’s affirmative. Thank you.
{ts:158}
ATC: Just be advised, there’s going to be a delay for JFK and they’re landing ILS runway 13 left, or actually, it’s probably an RNAV approach, but they’re landing 13 left and they’re in some delay. So expect some delay and vectors for now. For now, fly heading 150.
Pilot: Heading 150, JetBlue 94.
{ts:174}
ATC: JetBlue 94, how’s your ride?
Pilot: Light chop at the moment.
ATC: JetBlue 94, turn right heading 340.
Pilot: Right turn, 340, JetBlue 94.
{ts:194}
ATC: Turn right heading 080. We’re going to try to hold you a little further out east while we wait for gap in Kennedy arrivals, just to get you out of this weather here. JetBlue 94, you in a left turn heading 080?
Pilot: Right turn 080. Okay, it looks like you made a left one there. Just continue that right turn heading 080, please, JetBlue 94.
ATC: JetBlue 94, contact approach on 124.07.
Pilot: 124.07, JetBlue 94.
ATC: New York, welcome back, 68.
{ts:256}
ATC: Are you declaring minimum fuel, because we can’t give you direct fuel remaining?
Pilot: I need that in minutes, please.
ATC: Just fighting on 12.04 now, just going to be runway 1, ILS 13 there at Kennedy and just there’s a heavy preset just to west the field. 94, are you declaring minimum fuel?
Pilot: 94, turn right. They’re asking how much fuel before total fuel exhaustion, please.
ATC: 94, minutes until your full fuel exhaustion.
Pilot: 794, they’re making you an emergency. You’re cleared to Kennedy airport, heading 180, 94. Let me know people on board.
Pilot: 146 souls on board. Thank you.
{ts:339}
ATC: 94, contact New York on 125.7.
Pilot: 94 is with you, 3,000.
ATC: 94, approach, it is Delta is current. Expect vectors to the ILS runway 13 left approach.
Pilot: We have Delta.
ATC: JetBlue 94, Islip is also available for you about 15 miles to your southeast.
Pilot: Get us in Kennedy. We’ll do that, JetBlue 94.
ATC: Turn right heading 220.
Pilot: 220, JetBlue 94.
{ts:384}
ATC: Kennedy altimeter 29.58.
Pilot: 29.58, JetBlue 94.
ATC: Wind shear reported again, lost one knot 1500 feet on the way down to the surface. All tight.
Pilot: Roger, 94.
ATC: When able, fuel in pounds?
Pilot: 5,300 lbs.
ATC: Souls?
Pilot: 146 said, 136 on the… (uncertain/fuzzy transmission).
ATC: Thank you, sir. JetBlue 94, contact approach 128.12.
Pilot: 128.12, JetBlue 94.
{ts:440}
ATC: JetBlue 94, what speed you are?
Pilot: 250.
ATC: JetBlue 94, speed 190.
Pilot: Speed 190, JetBlue 94.
ATC: Heading 270, final 13, 2.4.
Pilot: 3,000, JetBlue 94.
{ts:480}
ATC: JetBlue 94, to 170.
Pilot: 170.
Pilot: JetBlue 94, we’re declaring min fuel.
ATC: JetBlue 94, say again?
Pilot: We’re declaring min fuel.
ATC: Okay, we have you as a fuel emergency.
Pilot: Yeah, they declared it as emergency, but now we’re officially declaring it—fuel.
ATC: You’re officially declaring, say again?
Pilot: Yeah, we’re min fuel. We’ll go with the emergency, JetBlue 94.
ATC: Okay, you’ll go with the emergency?
Pilot: Affirmative.
{ts:526}
ATC: JetBlue 94, turn right heading 310.
Pilot: 310, JetBlue 94.
ATC: JetBlue 94, turn right heading 040.
Pilot: 040, JetBlue 94.
ATC: JetBlue 94, make the heading 060.
Pilot: 060, JetBlue 94.
ATC: JetBlue 94, slow to 160.
Pilot: Slow to 160, JetBlue 94.
ATC: JetBlue 94, turn right heading 110, join the localizer.
Pilot: 110 to join the localizer, JetBlue 94.
ATC: JetBlue 94, cross TX at 2,100, cleared ILS 13 left approach.
Pilot: Cross TX at 2,100, cleared for the ILS 13 left, JetBlue 94.
{ts:586}
ATC: JetBlue 94, contact tower 119.1.
Pilot: Kennedy, JetBlue 94 is with 13.
ATC: JetBlue 94, Kennedy. Emergency equipment is standby as a precaution. Windshear reported, gain or loss of 15 knots at 800 ft by all types. Moderate turbulence on the ground, wind 12-04 gust 38. Runway 13 left, cleared to land.
Pilot: Cleared to land, 13 left, JetBlue 94.
ATC: You can exit at Delta here. Do you have any idea where you’re going to park?
Pilot: Not yet, about to clear the runway.
ATC: You can pull up to Impe Alpha, and do you require any further assistance?
Pilot: Thanks, 94.
ATC: Just leave yourself room to turn on Alpha. Contact ground 129 when you find out.
Bottom Line
According to recorded air traffic control transmissions, the flight crew remained composed and cooperative throughout the sequence. Controllers provided vectors to navigate through adverse conditions and manage spacing for the busy JFK arrival flow.
During the final approach, the JetBlue pilots reported 5,300 pounds of fuel remaining and 146 people on board. After touchdown, the aircraft taxied under its own power to the assigned gate without further incident.
The communication transcript revealed clear, professional coordination between the cockpit and ATC despite challenging operational circumstances.
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