ISTANBUL— A Turkish Airlines (TK) Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner carried out a go-around at New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) after the flight crew believed they had not received a landing clearance.
The aircraft was arriving from Istanbul Airport (IST) and was on final approach to runway 22 Left. The pilots started the go-around from around 100 feet, though the Tower later confirmed the flight had already been cleared to land.
Turkish Airlines 787 Aborts JFK Landing
Turkish Airlines flight TK11, also identified as THY11, was operating from Istanbul to New York on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner registered TC-LLJ.
As the aircraft joined the final approach for runway 22 Left, the flight crew contacted the JFK Tower. The controller acknowledged the flight by reading back only its call sign but did not issue a landing clearance at that point.
The crew called the Tower several more times as the aircraft continued toward the runway. During this period, the controller was handling other traffic on the frequency and did not respond to the Turkish Airlines flight with a clearance.
With no confirmed clearance and the runway approaching, the crew decided to discontinue the approach. The pilots went around from about 100 feet and reported that they did not have a landing clearance. The Tower then stated that the flight had in fact been cleared to land.
ATC Communication
The recorded exchange shows the controller managing a busy sequence of arrivals and departures on the same frequency. Other flights, including an American Airlines arrival and several taxiing aircraft, received instructions while the Turkish Airlines crew waited for their clearance.
After the go-around, the controller instructed the crew to turn left onto a heading of 180 degrees and maintain 2,000 feet. When asked for the reason behind the go-around, the crew reported that they had not received a landing clearance.
The controller acknowledged the report and confirmed that the flight had been cleared to land, then advised the crew to stand by for a frequency change. The flight was handed to New York Approach on 125.7 for re-sequencing.
Air Traffic Control Transcript — Turkish Airlines Flight TK11 Go-Around at JFK
0:14 — Approach (to Turkish 11): Turkish 11 Heavy, reduce speed to 170 knots, continue to Tower 119.4, good day.
0:19 — Approach (to Turkish 11): Turkish 11 Heavy, reduce speed to 170 knots, 119.1, good day.
0:25 — Tower: Turkish 11 Heavy, Turkish 11 Heavy.
0:27 — Tower: Turkish 11 Heavy.
0:37 — Tower (to Turret 109): Turret 109, right Juliet, Zulu, Hotel, hold short 23.
0:43 — Turret 109: Right Juliet, Zulu, Hotel, hold short 23, Turret 109.
0:50 — Tower (to Turkish 11): Turkish 11 Heavy, start reducing.
0:52 — Tower (to Turkish 11): Turkish 11 Heavy, reduce speed to minimum.
0:57 — American 1727: Tower, American 1727 with you, 22 Left.
1:03 — Tower (to American 1727): American 1727, Kennedy Tower, wind is 140 at 3, runway 22L, cleared to land.
1:08 — American 1727: Cleared to land, 22 Left, American 1727.
1:14 — Tower (to American 1727): American 1727, you’re behind the Heavy 787, caution wake turbulence.
1:18 — American 1727: 1727.
1:19 — Tower (to JetBlue 860): JetBlue 860, right now, Hotel, taxi, Zulu, Golf, hold short 23.
1:23 — JetBlue 860: Hotel, Zulu, Golf, hold short 23, JetBlue 860.
1:30 — Turkish 11: Turkish 11, final.
1:37 — Turkish 11: Turkish 11, final.
1:42 — Tower (to American 274 Heavy): American 274 Heavy, at Juliet, cross 22 Right, taxi straight ahead via Alpha to the ramp, monitor Ground 0.9.
1:50 — American 274 Heavy: Juliet cross, 22 Right at Juliet, Alpha, monitor Ground, American 274 Heavy.
1:58 — Turkish 11: Turkish, Turkish, Turkish 11, going around.
2:06 — Tower (to Turkish 11): Turkish 11 Heavy, roger, turn left heading 180, maintain 2000.
2:13 — Turkish 11: Turkish 11, at 180, maintain 2000.
2:17 — Tower (to Turkish 11): Turkish 11 Heavy, what was the reason for go-around?
2:21 — Turkish 11: We got no landing clearance.
2:26 — Tower (to Turkish 11): Alright, Turkish 11 Heavy, roger, you were cleared to land, stand by for frequency change.
2:36 — Turkish 11: Stand by for frequency change, Turkish 11.
2:43 — Tower (to Turkish 11): Turkish 11 Heavy, contact New York Approach on 125.7 for re-sequencing.
2:48 — Turkish 11: 125.7, Turkish 11.
2:50 — Turkish 11: New York, Turkish 11, heading 180, and climbing 2000, going around.
2:56 — Approach (to Turkish 11): Turkish 11 Heavy, turn left heading 070.
3:00 — Turkish 11: Turkish 11, left heading 070.
3:12 — Turkish 11: Tower, hello again, Turkish 11 Heavy.
3:14 — Tower (to Turkish 11): Turkish 11 Heavy, Kennedy Tower, welcome back.
3:17 — Tower (to Turkish 11): Wind 120 at 5, caution wake turbulence, you are cleared to land, runway 22L.
3:23 — Turkish 11: Turkish 11, we are cleared to land, 22L, thanks.
Flight and Aircraft Details
The aircraft involved was a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, a widebody type used by Turkish Airlines on long-haul routes such as its Istanbul to New York service.
After completing the missed approach, the crew was vectored back toward the airport. On the return, the Tower welcomed the flight back, passed the latest wind information, cautioned about turbulence, and cleared the aircraft to land on runway 22 Left. The flight then landed safely.
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