ATC Transcripts Archive
Notable air traffic control communications from around the world
02 Oct KLAS active shooter
ATC manages Las Vegas airport operations as people flee onto runways during the 2017 mass shooting.
17 April - SWA1380
The legendary emergency landing of Southwest 1380 following a catastrophic uncontained engine failure and decompression.
26 Jan Kobe Bryant fatal helicopter crash
ATC communications preceding the fatal 2020 helicopter crash involving NBA legend Kobe Bryant.
Air Canada 759 Near Miss Taxiway Overflight San Francisco
Air Canada 759 narrowly avoids landing on a taxiway occupied by four aircraft at San Francisco.
Air Canada 759 Near Miss Taxiway Overflight San Francisco_2018-12-05_transcript_2.md
Air Canada 759 nearly lands on a taxiway occupied by four aircraft at San Francisco.
Austin Tower FedExSouthwest runway incursion
A FedEx 767 narrowly avoids a collision with a Southwest 737 during low-visibility operations in Austin.
Blind pilot is talked down
RAF pilot talks down a civilian pilot who suffered a stroke and went blind mid-flight.
Continental (Colgan)-3407 -8 Crash in Buffalo
ATC audio capturing the disappearance and crash of Colgan Air Flight 3407 in Buffalo, NY.
JAL516 Collision at Tokyo's Haneda Airport
A Japan Airlines A350 collides with a Coast Guard Dash 8 at Haneda Airport.
PK8303 Crash ATC recording (final minute)
The final distress calls from PIA Flight 8303 following a dual engine failure near Karachi.
Re UPS 1354 (Birmingham, AL) crash audio
ATC audio capturing the final approach and immediate aftermath of the fatal UPS 1354 crash.
Speedbird 2 Last Concorde KJFK to EGLL
The final commercial departure of the British Airways Concorde from New York's JFK Airport.
TWA 800, 25th anniversary
ATC and nearby pilots witness and report the mid-air explosion of TWA Flight 800.
US Airways 1549 Audio (Edited, full convo.)
The complete ATC recording of US Airways Flight 1549's emergency ditching in the Hudson River.
11 March Helicopter crash in East River (NYC)
A helicopter pilot reports an engine failure before ditching into New York's East River.
A Moment with Boston John!
Famous controller "Boston John" expertly manages heavy traffic at Logan Airport with his signature personality.
AA383 ORD - MIA 767 Runway Fire 2016-10-28
American Airlines 383 suffers a catastrophic engine failure and massive fire during takeoff at O'Hare.
ASA1258 Depressurization, 05-Jan-2024
Alaska Airlines 1282 declares an emergency and returns to Portland after a mid-air depressurization event.
Air France Concorde is back at JFK (2001)
The Air France Concorde makes its historic return to New York JFK in November 2001.
Antonov 225's arrival at OAK generates excitement among pilots.
ATC and pilots at Oakland Airport coordinate to view the arrival of the Antonov An-225.
Asiana 214 Crash Incident at San Francisco International - unabridged audio
ATC audio capturing the immediate transition from routine operations to a major crash emergency at SFO.
Dale 'Snort' Snodgrass - Marchetti N28U Crash in Idaho
ATC recording of the fatal crash of legendary Navy pilot Dale "Snort" Snodgrass in Idaho.
Delta 1086 off runway LGA 3-5-15
Delta Flight 1086 skids off a snowy runway at LaGuardia, resulting in a fuel leak.
Delta 89 Engine Failure - B-777 Fuel dump over Los Angeles 1-14-2020
Delta 89 returns to LAX after an engine failure, controversially dumping fuel over schools.
Dreamlifter lands at wrong airport
A Boeing 747 Dreamlifter mistakenly lands at a small municipal airport instead of McConnell AFB.
Emirates B777 crash at Dubai International OMDB
Emirates flight 521 crashes during a go-around at Dubai International, leading to immediate airfield closure.
Guy jumps fence at ATL and tries to board a plane. This is comical.
A partially clothed man breaches security at Atlanta airport and attempts to board a taxiing aircraft.
Harrison Ford lands on a taxiway at KSNA - almost hits a Boeing B738
Actor Harrison Ford mistakenly lands his Aviat Husky on a taxiway, overflying an American Airlines Boeing 737.
JFK Ground....He is just so good (Well worth the length) First (Starts @ 8min)
A masterclass in high-tempo JFK Ground control featuring witty banter and expert traffic management.
JFK Ground....He is just so good (Well worth the length) Second
A witty JFK ground controller expertly manages heavy traffic during a taxiway pavement failure.
Jet Blue 292 September 2005 Emergency Landing at LAX
JetBlue Flight 292 performs a successful emergency landing at LAX with a jammed nose wheel.
KLAS British Airways Flight 2276 Fire on the Ground
A British Airways Boeing 777 suffers a catastrophic engine fire during takeoff at Las Vegas.
Military Fighters chasing Private Plane with Unconscious Pilot (just happened)
Military F-15 pilots intercept and monitor a private TBM-900 after the pilot loses consciousness from hypoxia.
Passenger lands diverted plane from Henderson after pilot loses consciousness
A passenger takes control of a King Air after the pilot loses consciousness mid-flight over California.
Re FlyDubai B738 crash at Rostov (Russia)
ATC communications leading up to the fatal crash of FlyDubai Flight 981 in Rostov-on-Don.
Re VFR into IFR.......5 souls 3 kids 1 family
ATC searches for a missing VFR Saratoga with five aboard during severe winter weather conditions.
SWA1392 KAUS - Person on Runway
Southwest 1392 reports a pedestrian on the runway after landing at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
Space shuttle in NY (part#13)
The Space Shuttle Enterprise arrives in New York atop a NASA 747 for its final retirement.
Suspect in failed Times Square bombing pulled off UAE202 at JFK
Emirates Flight 202 is ordered back to the gate to apprehend the Times Square bomber.
UAL 328 uncontained engine failure - DEN
A United Boeing 777 suffers a catastrophic uncontained engine failure shortly after departing Denver.
10 Feb A pedestrian on the runway at LAX aborts SWA 2494 takeoff
A shirtless intruder climbs onto a Southwest jet at LAX, forcing an immediate aborted takeoff.
911 - Las Vegas Navajo crash
911 and ATC recordings of a Piper Navajo's engine fire and fatal crash in Las Vegas.
AAL2587 Near Miss at KAUS
An American Airlines 737 executes an emergency climb after a TCAS Resolution Advisory near Austin.
Air China 428 terrain alert at Hong Kong
Air China 428 makes a premature turn after takeoff, narrowly avoiding Lantau Island's mountainous terrain.
Aloha Airlines Final Flight
The final departure of Aloha Airlines from Oakland to Honolulu before the airline ceased operations.
Blue Angel #8 Emergency Landing at KMSN
A US Navy Blue Angel F/A-18 performs an emergency arrested landing in Madison due to hydraulic failure.
Blue Angels San Francisco radio calls - a little pullll...
The Blue Angels flight leader directs the team through a high-precision performance during San Francisco Fleet Week.
Boom Aircraft Goes Supersonic for the First Time
The historic first supersonic flight of the Boom XB-1 demonstrator aircraft at Mojave.
Captain C.B. Sully Sullenberger to Retire From US Airways - Last Flight Audio
Captain "Sully" Sullenberger receives a touching tribute from ATC and pilots during his final flight.
Caribbean Airlines 526 JFK Runway Incursion vs JetBlue 1295
A Caribbean Airlines flight crosses an active runway at JFK, forcing a JetBlue flight to abort takeoff.
Comms of Last Space Shuttle Flight while in Orbit.
Brief orbital communications during STS-135, the final mission of the Space Shuttle Atlantis.
Eclipse jet declares emergency after take off
An Eclipse jet declares an emergency shortly after takeoff due to a total left aileron failure.
El Al 005 (Boeing 777) divert to KBIL engine fire
An El Al Boeing 777 declares a Mayday and diverts to Billings, Montana, after an engine fire.
F-15's dogfighting over the Atlantic, E-3B calling the shots.
F-15 pilots and an E-3B AWACS controller conduct high-intensity air-to-air combat training over the Atlantic.
F16 Intercepts Plane With Headbutt Move Near Trump's Mar a Lago Resort
ATC manages an F-16 intercept of a TFR violator while commercial flights face fuel concerns.
FDX3609 Bird Strike Engine Fire Departing KEWR
FedEx cargo jet suffers bird strike and engine fire departing Newark, returning for emergency landing.
Iron Maiden ED FORCE ONE tour
Iron Maiden's "Ed Force One" piloted by Bruce Dickinson arrives in Fort Lauderdale using callsign 666.
Oshkosh Air Boss - Sean Tucker and Thunderstorm
Sean Tucker and other performers scramble to land as 41-knot gusts hit the Oshkosh airshow.
Pilot says You're an idiot to controller
A Delta pilot calls an ATC controller an "idiot" after a dispute over departure sequencing.
Qantas 747 engine explodes (or some other small problem)
A Qantas 747 suffers a spectacular engine failure after takeoff, requiring a 30-minute fuel dump.
Re Has this really not been posted yet Delta pilot snaps at ATL ground. Hilarious!
A Delta pilot becomes confrontational with an Atlanta Ground controller after being corrected for a taxi error.
Re LAX Second Jet Pack sighting
A China Airlines pilot reports a "flying jetpack" at 6,000 feet near Los Angeles International Airport.
Re Solar Impulse SOLAR2 arriving Moffett NUQ
Solar Impulse 2 arrives at Moffett Field after its historic trans-Pacific flight, assisted by a relay.
Re Vehicle on Rwy 25R LAX DL5700 Aborts Takeoff
ATC manages three simultaneous emergencies, including a medical issue and hydraulic failures, at Los Angeles International.
Runway Incursion at KPHL
A US Airways pilot crosses an active runway without clearance, sparking a heated argument with ATC.
SWA3472 Engine Blew KPNS
Southwest 3472 suffers an uncontained engine failure and rapid decompression, diverting safely to Pensacola.
Severe weather at KATL 2017-06-29
A Delta 777 pilot warns ATC against further landings after nearly veering off the runway.
Small airplane makes emergency landing on I-75 in Collier County
A pilot successfully lands a disabled aircraft on Florida's I-75 after a total engine failure.
Space Shuttle Comms - Approach to Edwards AFB
Space Shuttle communications during its final approach and landing sequence at Edwards Air Force Base.
Suicidal passenger on Virgin America (Redwood) 218
Virgin America flight 218 declares a ground emergency after a passenger threatens to kill everyone on board.
The helicopter struck a duck that went through the pilot's windscreen
A police helicopter pilot sustains facial injuries after a bird shatters the windscreen during flight.
Thunderstorm tango at KROC
ATC manages multiple aircraft through a rapidly moving severe thunderstorm line at Rochester Airport.
Turtles take over JFK Airport
Hundreds of diamondback terrapins delay flights at JFK Airport during their annual nesting migration.
UFO sighting
KLM pilots and Schiphol tower controllers report a mysterious, stationary light object near the airport.
Virgin Atlantic A346 Feb 14th 2016 laser strike
Virgin Atlantic flight VS25 returns to London after a laser strike injures a pilot's eyes.
'Boston John' having fun with another language
Legendary controller "Boston John" uses humorous foreign and playful phrases during routine aircraft handoffs.
17 Oct Air Transat 189 MAYDAY
Air Transat 189 declares a Mayday near Toronto following a loss of power in one engine.
29 Nov Delta Air Lines flight 2196 nearly landed on occupied taxiway
A Delta MD-88 is ordered to go around after inadvertently lining up with an occupied taxiway.
AA 1561 ORD to SFO - man tries to enter cockpit
American Airlines Flight 1561 requests priority landing at SFO after a passenger attempted to breach the cockpit.
Aeromexico 576 hijacked at MMMX
ATC manages heavy traffic and fuel-critical arrivals during the 2009 Aeromexico 576 hijacking emergency.
Alaska 881 Oakland to Kahului - Struck flock of geese on takeoff.
Alaska Airlines 881 declares an emergency after ingesting geese into an engine during takeoff from Oakland.
Balloon halts traffic at SFO
San Francisco International Airport halts traffic and orders multiple go-arounds due to a suspected drone/balloon.
Bird Strike on Northwest A320 at Raleigh Aug 9th 2009
Northwest 1546 suffers a bird strike and subsequent engine failure after departing Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
Bomb threat at KOAK - Alaska 342
Alaska Airlines flight 342 undergoes an emergency taxiway evacuation in Oakland following a bomb threat.
Busy Day at Nellis AFB Tower recording
Rapid-fire military ATC managing multiple fighter jet arrivals and overhead breaks at Nellis Air Force Base.
Cathay Pacific 800 BOS-HKG Smoke in Cabin
Cathay Pacific flight 811 declares Mayday following departure from Boston due to smoke in the cockpit.
Chicago Approach - lobster
A Chicago Approach controller jokingly asks a pilot to bring back Maine lobsters for the staff.
Dad and 4 year old make emergency landing in St. Lucie.
A pilot and his 4-year-old daughter perform a successful emergency landing after an engine failure.
Delta 1063 bird strike - loss of one engine - return to JFK
Delta 1063 suffers a bird strike and engine failure after takeoff from JFK, returning safely.
Delta MD-88 engine out returns to Atlanta ATL
A Delta MD-88 returns to Atlanta for an emergency landing after experiencing a right engine failure.
FedEx 1204 Aborts takeoff, FedEx 976 goes around KLAX 122209
FedEx 1204 aborts takeoff at KLAX, forcing company aircraft FedEx 976 to execute a go-around.
FedEx gets mad at LAX tower, then AA 777 goes around
A frustrated LAX controller disputes a landing clearance with FedEx before ordering an American go-around.
JFK Tower's secret weapon Pussycats
A JFK controller jokingly brings his young children to the tower, leading to a humorous exchange.
JetBlue 1295 High Speed Aborted Takeoff at JFK
JetBlue 1295 performs a high-speed aborted takeoff at JFK after Caribbean 526 incurs on the runway.
JetBlue 194 - Hydraulics Issue KLAS
JetBlue 194 returns to Las Vegas after losing two hydraulic systems and burning off fuel.
John Travolta's Boeing 707 (N707JT) leaving LAX for Oshkosh
John Travolta departs Los Angeles International Airport in his private Boeing 707 for Oshkosh.
Justin Bieber Interference
A pilot reports unusual radio interference sounding like a child singing Justin Bieber on tower frequency.
Kennedy Ground Has A Sense of Humor
JFK Ground controller jokes that pilots should face forward to avoid scaring the passengers.
Lufthansa stuck while JFK Ground wants AF6 in Paris
A Lufthansa aircraft gets stuck in snow at JFK while Ground jokes with Air France.
Man drives onto Love Field runway, starts yelling Jihad
A vehicle breaches security at Dallas Love Field, driving 100 mph down a major taxiway.
Near Miss @ KSFO - We Need to Talk!
A United Boeing 777 triggers a TCAS alert during a close encounter with a Cessna at SFO.
New York TRACON controller speaks Korean
A New York TRACON controller switches to Korean to explain traffic constraints to a Korean Air crew.
Passenger misinterprets seat neighbor's RIP text forcing flight to divert
An American Airlines flight returns to San Juan after a passenger misinterprets a neighbor's text message.
Pilot notified OAK Tower of Seagulls and then hits one departing
A pilot warns of seagulls on the runway, strikes one during takeoff, and declares an emergency.
Pilot orders coffee during emergency landing @ KBUF today
A Chautauqua Airlines pilot humorously requests Tim Hortons coffee while declaring an emergency in Buffalo.
Plane lands on beach in Carlsbad
A pilot successfully performs an emergency landing on a Carlsbad beach following a total engine failure.
QFA108 Aborted Take Off
Qantas 108 Heavy performs a high-speed rejected takeoff at LAX following an intermittent smoke indication.
Re KLAX - Someone with a radio that shouldn't have one.
An unauthorized individual disrupts KLAX tower communications with nonsensical and threatening radio transmissions.
Re United 1463 Diverts to ICT after slide inflates during flight
A United Airlines Boeing 737 diverts to Wichita after an emergency slide inflates inside the cabin.
Spirit Airlines #647 Reports Engine fire after take off from KIAG
Spirit 647 diverts to Buffalo after reporting an engine fire shortly after takeoff from Niagara Falls.
Stuck Mic, ILS Lesson
A flight instructor's detailed ILS lesson is accidentally broadcast over the tower frequency via a stuck microphone.
Swiss jet aborts Boston takeoff after flame and smoke spew from engine
A Swiss heavy jet aborts takeoff at Boston Logan following a dramatic engine failure and smoke.
Tower controller gets honest with survey pilot at KSNA
A John Wayne Tower controller candidly expresses frustration with a survey pilot's obstructive flight path.
Two Delta planes collide ripping off wing while taxiing at LaGuardia
Two Endeavor Air CRJs collide on a LaGuardia taxiway, causing cockpit damage and one injury.
UAL2012 Oxygen Masks Deploy Descending into KDEN
United 2012 declares an emergency and performs a rapid descent into Denver after oxygen masks deploy.
What does a can of Coke sound like being opened in an F-15, here's the audio.
F-15 fighter pilots share a lighthearted conversation about snacks and opening a soda in flight.
'United 25, you have time for a shoutout'
An LAX controller asks a United Airlines pilot to give his niece a personal shoutout.
AA 1586 makes emergency landing at LAX with blown tire
American 1586 returns to LAX for an emergency landing after blowing a tire during takeoff.
ATC and Public Safety audio from Denver (bird strike 13 August)
United 1618 returns to Denver for an emergency landing after a bird strike and engine ingestion.
Air Force One Lands At JFK - April 6th, around 450PM ET
Air Force One lands at JFK while ground traffic is held for security "sterilization."
Air Force One at San Fran on May 25, 2010
Air Force One lands at San Francisco International Airport and receives taxi instructions to parking.
Alaska Airlines jet hits deer on runway in Kodiak
An Alaska Airlines jet strikes a deer while landing at Kodiak Airport, leading to runway closures.
American 1080 emergancy landing
American 1080 makes an emergency landing at JFK due to an unsafe configuration and smoking brakes.
American 119 Overfly Airport... Man in Lavatory!! KLAX 5-22-10
American 119 aborts its landing at LAX because a passenger entered the lavatory during final approach.
American 1825 Stuck In Chicago...
American 1825 lands at O'Hare during a massive blizzard only to be stranded for days.
Antonov 124 In Philly
A massive Antonov An-124 Ruslan heavy transport aircraft makes a routine arrival at Philadelphia International Airport.
Boston John having a fine day as usual
Legendary controller "Boston John" efficiently manages a sequence of landings and departures at Boston Logan.
Don't ever call me that again
A JFK controller jokingly reprimands a Delta pilot for using a truncated callsign during approach.
FedEx 1420 - tailstrike at DEN
FedEx 1420 reports a hard landing and potential tailstrike at Denver International Airport.
JFK Ground Funny Clip
Pilots and a JFK controller joke about a grumpy Comair pilot's attitude on the frequency.
JetBlue 571 Birdstrike @KHPN
JetBlue 571 declares an emergency and returns to Westchester County Airport after striking two large geese.
Kite traffic at JFK
JFK Tower manages multiple commercial flights avoiding a large kite floating 1,400 feet above the approach.
Obama's Marine Choppers Arriving at KLAX 3-19-10
Presidential Marine Corps helicopters arrive at LAX, sparking curiosity and commentary from commercial airline pilots.
Pilots See Unusual Lights in the Sky
Multiple commercial pilots report seeing two unusual lights maneuvering at extreme altitudes over a military operations area.
Plane landing at LaGuardia aborts landing 100 feet above ground in near miss
Delta 468 executes a late go-around at LaGuardia due to traffic remaining on the runway.
Re CommAir STOP the aircraft !!!
Kennedy Ground urgently orders a Comair aircraft to stop to prevent a major taxiway gridlock.
Re LOT Polish Brake fire at ORD
LOT 3 Heavy is ordered to stop immediately at O'Hare after ATC spots a brake fire.
Re Virgin America 837 emergency landing SFO
Virgin America flight 837 declares an emergency after striking a flock of seagulls departing San Francisco.
Skywest CRJ2 at Denver on Dec 29th 2024 cabin did not pressurize
A Skywest CRJ200 returns to Denver after suffering cabin pressurization issues during its initial climb.
Speedbird tries an April Fools
A British Airways pilot jokingly requests priority taxiing for an "old passenger" on April Fool's Day.
TOWED Back In Shame
A Republic Airways pilot humorously reports a mechanical failure requiring a tow back to the gate.
Thomson 033 KSFB Bird Strike & Landing
A Thomson Airways Boeing 767 suffers a bird strike during takeoff and returns to Sanford.
Top of the Food Chain - Skunk crosses in front of Southwest.
A Southwest pilot reports a skunk on the taxiway, leading to a humorous exchange with Ground Control.
'A bunch of balloons' at LAX
ATC warns multiple flights about a cluster of balloons drifting through the LAX final approach path.
Air Force One - Shanwick Oceanic
Air Force One coordinates an oceanic crossing with Shanwick Radio during a 2013 presidential trip.
American 91 asks Gander ACC for direct to KGRR so he can watch Super Bowl
An American Airlines pilot requests a direct routing shortcut to catch the Super Bowl game.
Calmest Bird Strike Ever
A Cessna pilot calmly reports a bird strike during a short approach and lands safely.
Lufthansa 410 at JFK, not happy!
A frustrated Lufthansa pilot reacts bluntly after learning the controller didn't witness their four-hour delay.
Pilot Invites Controller to Go Along
A lighthearted exchange where a pilot invites an air traffic controller on a trip to Antigua.
Santa Ana fires BBQ
A pilot jokingly asks ATC about a "barbecue" while flying through thick 2007 wildfire smoke.
This is JFK, right
A pilot jokingly confirms he is at JFK, prompting a witty response about gate availability.
Wrong freq Wrong Aiports KPBI-KFLL
A Delta pilot mistakenly contacts Palm Beach Tower while actually inbound for Fort Lauderdale.
You Called Me Comair...
A lighthearted exchange where a controller accidentally calls a JetBlue pilot "Comair" during clearance delivery.
Funny Republic Pilot
A Republic Airways flight lands at Greensboro during low visibility and haze conditions.