NEW YORK– A KLM (KL) Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner, registered as PH-BKC, operating flight KL642 from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), became part of a lighthearted exchange with air traffic control before takeoff. The incident unfolded as the aircraft prepared to depart Runway 4 Left at JFK.
The conversation took a humorous turn when the KLM pilot asked whether the aircraft was number one in the departure sequence, repeating a question that another pilot had asked moments earlier. The controller briefly expressed confusion before the KLM crew revealed that the question was a joke.
KLM Pilot Repeats Condor Crew’s Question at JFK
The exchange began while Condor flight 17 was preparing to depart JFK. Air traffic control instructed the Condor aircraft to line up and wait on Runway 4 Left.
During the conversation, the Condor pilot asked whether the aircraft was number one in the departure sequence. The controller responded, “Number one to who?” before the pilot repeated the aircraft’s callsign and acknowledged the instruction to line up and wait.
The controller subsequently cleared Condor 17 for takeoff from Runway 4 Left. The exchange then continued with KLM flight KL642, which was also preparing for departure from the same runway.
JFK Controller Caught Off Guard by KLM Pilot’s Joke
After receiving instructions to line up and wait, the KLM pilot asked the controller, “KLM 642, are we number one?”
The question prompted an immediate reaction from the controller, who explained that it was the second time someone had asked the same question. The controller then pointed out that no aircraft was ahead of KLM, questioning who could otherwise be number one.
The KLM pilot clarified the situation, explaining that the question was a joke and that the crew had heard the earlier exchange involving Condor 17.
The controller acknowledged the explanation, and the conversation continued in a relaxed tone. The exchange demonstrated how a routine question about departure sequencing turned into a brief moment of humour between the flight crew and the controller.
KLM 642 Receives Takeoff Clearance
Following the conversation, air traffic control issued KLM flight KL642 its takeoff clearance for Runway 4 Left. The flight crew acknowledged the clearance and repeated the runway designation and flight callsign.
The aircraft involved was identified as PH-BKC, a Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner operated by KLM. Aircraft-tracking records identify the registration and aircraft type and list KL642 on the New York JFK to Amsterdam AMS route.
The supplied radio exchange contains no indication of a resulting operational disruption. Instead, the conversation centred on the repeated question about departure order and the controller’s reaction before KLM received clearance to take off.
KLM Pilots and JFK ATC Transcript
Here’s a radio transcript of the conversation between KLM pilots and New York JFK ATC as flagged by You Can See ATC:
00:01 | ATC: Condor 17 Heavy, [wind and traffic information unclear].
00:08 | ATC: Condor 17, line up and wait, Runway 4 Left.
00:16 | Condor 17 Pilot: Just confirming, we are number one.
00:20 | ATC: Number one to who?
00:22 | Condor 17 Pilot: Number one, Condor, lining up and waiting, Condor 17.
00:29 | ATC: Condor 17 Heavy, [wind information unclear], cleared for takeoff.
00:32 | Condor 17 Pilot: Cleared for takeoff, Runway 4 Left, Condor 17.
00:41 | ATC: KLM 642 Heavy, [wind and traffic information unclear].
00:45 | KLM Pilot: 642 Heavy, line up Runway 4 Left and wait.
00:51 | KLM Pilot: KLM 642, are we number one?
00:55 | ATC: I’m confused. This is the second time somebody’s asked me this question.
00:58 | ATC: There’s nobody in front of you. Who would be number one?
01:01 | KLM Pilot: No, sir, that was a joke. We heard them as well; we were confused as well.
01:04 | ATC: Oh, okay.
01:08 | ATC: That was funny.
01:10 | ATC: Yeah, you got me.
01:14 | ATC: KLM 642 Heavy, [wind information unclear], cleared for takeoff.
01:17 | KLM Pilot: Runway 4 Left, cleared for takeoff, KLM 642 Heavy.
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