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Jet Blue 292 September 2005 Emergency Landing at LAX

JetBlue Flight 292 performs a successful emergency landing at LAX with a jammed nose wheel.

2010-02-20 Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), California

Summary

JetBlue Flight 292, an Airbus A320, experienced a landing gear malfunction shortly after takeoff where the nose wheel was locked 90 degrees sideways. The crew circled for several hours to burn fuel before making a high-stakes emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). This recording captures the final approach, landing, and immediate aftermath as emergency crews confirm the aircraft is safe.

Analysis

This incident is one of the most famous "televised" emergencies in aviation history. Shortly after departing Burbank for New York, the pilots received a landing gear error. A visual inspection from the ground and other aircraft confirmed that the nose gear was turned sideways at a 90-degree angle. Because the gear could not be retracted or straightened, the crew had to land with the tires perpendicular to the runway, which would inevitably lead to the tires bursting and the metal rims grinding against the pavement.

The transcript highlights the methodical nature of the pilots and controllers. The crew spent over three hours in a holding pattern to burn off fuel. This serves two purposes: it reduces the aircraft's weight to lower the landing speed and minimizes the amount of flammable liquid on board in case of a fire upon touchdown. The pilots' request for a "long final" is a standard emergency procedure to ensure the aircraft is perfectly stabilized and the crew has ample time to complete all checklists before the critical moment of impact.

A notable technical aspect of this event was the "media feedback loop." Because JetBlue aircraft were equipped with LiveTV at every seat, the passengers on board were actually watching live news coverage of their own emergency landing. The pilots eventually had the system turned off to avoid causing further panic. On the ground, the coordination between LAX Tower and "Rescue 80" (the airport's fire and rescue services) shows the readiness of the airport's emergency infrastructure.

The landing itself was executed with extreme precision. The pilot held the nose off the ground as long as possible (aerodynamic braking) before gently lowering the sideways gear onto the runway. The resulting friction created a massive plume of sparks and fire from the metal-on-concrete contact, but the aircraft stayed on the centerline. The transcript concludes with the immense relief of the crew and the confirmation from Rescue 80 that there was no sustained fire, followed by the poignant remark that the passengers were "very happy to be on the ground."

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Original ATC Communication

Plain English Translation

JETBLUE 292
JetBlue 292, can you give me fuel remaining in minutes, hours, and minutes?
JETBLUE 292
JetBlue 292, can you tell me how many hours and minutes of flight time you have left before you run out of fuel?
CONTROLLER
Yes, sir. We have about an hour and 10 minutes—about 70 minutes worth of fuel.
CONTROLLER
Yes, sir. We have about an hour and ten minutes—roughly 70 minutes of fuel remaining.
JETBLUE 292
Thank you.
JETBLUE 292
Thank you.
CONTROLLER
JetBlue 292, now they want the pounds of approximate fuel.
CONTROLLER
JetBlue 292, now the emergency coordinators are asking for your approximate fuel weight in pounds.
JETBLUE 292
All right, we have 9,100 pounds at this point, JetBlue 292.
JETBLUE 292
All right, we’re showing 9,100 pounds of fuel at this point, JetBlue 292.
CONTROLLER
Thank you, sir. JetBlue 292, depart Seal Beach heading 020, vectors for final approach.
CONTROLLER
Thank you, sir. JetBlue 292, fly away from the Seal Beach area on a heading of 020; I’m going to give you steering directions to line you up for your final landing.
JETBLUE 292
020 at Seal Beach for JetBlue 292.
JETBLUE 292
Heading 020 at Seal Beach for JetBlue 292.
CONTROLLER
JetBlue 292, contact Approach on 124.9. Good luck, sir.
CONTROLLER
JetBlue 292, switch over to the landing controllers on frequency 124.9. Good luck to you, sir.
JETBLUE 292
124.9. Thank you very much for all your help today, JetBlue 292.
JETBLUE 292
Switching to 124.9. Thank you very much for all your help today, JetBlue 292.
CONTROLLER
You're welcome.
CONTROLLER
You're very welcome.
JETBLUE 292
Approach, JetBlue 292 is with you at 6,000, cleared to depart Seal Beach, 020 heading.
JETBLUE 292
Landing control, JetBlue 292 is checking in with you at 6,000 feet, flying away from the Seal Beach area on a heading of 020.
APPROACH
JetBlue 292, SoCal, Roger. Expect ILS approach Runway 25 Left. Information Juliet is current at Los Angeles.
APPROACH
JetBlue 292, Southern California approach, I hear you. Plan on using the instrument landing system for Runway 25 Left. The latest airport weather update, code Juliet, is currently active at LAX.
JETBLUE 292
Yes, sir. We have the latest ATIS, and I'm not sure if they passed it along, but we'd like a long final, please, for 25 Left.
JETBLUE 292
Yes, sir. We have the latest weather report. I'm not sure if the previous controllers told you, but we'd like a very long straight-in approach to Runway 25 Left so we have plenty of time to prepare.
APPROACH
JetBlue 292, Roger. Will a 20-mile final be long enough?
APPROACH
JetBlue 292, understood. Will a 20-mile straight-in path to the runway give you enough room?
JETBLUE 292
Yeah, that should be sufficient. 15 might even work, but we'll get back to you on that.
JETBLUE 292
Yeah, that should be plenty. 15 miles might even work, but we'll let you know for sure in a little bit.
APPROACH
Roger. JetBlue 292, traffic 11 o'clock, one mile northeast, altitude indicates 3,000, unverified.
APPROACH
Understood. JetBlue 292, there's another plane just ahead and slightly to your left, about a mile away. Radar shows them at 3,000 feet, but that hasn't been confirmed yet.
JETBLUE 292
Looking, JetBlue 292. For planning purposes, please vector us on approximately an 8 to 10-mile final.
JETBLUE 292
We're looking for them. For our arrival plans, please guide us so we have a nice long straight-in approach to the runway, about 8 to 10 miles out.
APPROACH
JetBlue 292, Roger.
APPROACH
Understood, JetBlue 292.
JETBLUE 292
Thank you.
JETBLUE 292
Thank you.
APPROACH
JetBlue 292, turn left heading 340.
APPROACH
JetBlue 292, turn left to a compass heading of 340.
JETBLUE 292
Left, 340, JetBlue 292.
JETBLUE 292
Left to 340, JetBlue 292.
APPROACH
JetBlue 292, expect ILS Runway 25 Left. Descend at pilot's discretion, maintain 4,000.
APPROACH
JetBlue 292, plan on using the instrument landing system for Runway 25 Left. You can start heading down whenever you're ready; just level off at 4,000 feet.
JETBLUE 292
All right, JetBlue 292. Planning on Runway 25 Left, we're perfectly set up for that. We're descending to 4,000.
JETBLUE 292
All right, JetBlue 292. We're planning on Runway 25 Left; we're perfectly set up for that. We're heading down to 4,000 now.
APPROACH
JetBlue 292, descend at pilot's discretion, maintain 3,000.
APPROACH
JetBlue 292, descend whenever you're ready and level off at 3,000 feet.
JETBLUE 292
3,000, JetBlue 292.
JETBLUE 292
Down to 3,000, JetBlue 292.
APPROACH
JetBlue 292, turn left heading 300.
APPROACH
JetBlue 292, turn left to a heading of 300.
JETBLUE 292
300 to the left, JetBlue 292.
JETBLUE 292
300 to the left, JetBlue 292.
APPROACH
JetBlue 292, descend at pilot's discretion, maintain 2,000.
APPROACH
JetBlue 292, you can drop down whenever you like and level off at 2,000 feet.
JETBLUE 292
Pilot's discretion to 2,000, JetBlue 292.
JETBLUE 292
Heading down to 2,000 at our discretion, JetBlue 292.
APPROACH
JetBlue 292, eight miles from Lima, turn left heading 280, maintain 2,000 until established on the localizer. Cleared for ILS Runway 25 Left approach.
APPROACH
JetBlue 292, you're eight miles from the Lima marker. Turn left to heading 280 and stay at 2,000 feet until you've caught the radio beam for the runway. You are cleared for the instrument approach to Runway 25 Left.
JETBLUE 292
All right, 280 on the heading, 2,000 until established. Cleared for the ILS 25 Left approach, JetBlue 292.
JETBLUE 292
Okay, we're turning to heading 280 and staying at 2,000 feet until we're lined up. We are cleared for the instrument landing approach to Runway 25 Left, JetBlue 292.
APPROACH
JetBlue 292, contact Los Angeles Tower on 127.85.
APPROACH
JetBlue 292, switch over and talk to the Los Angeles Tower controllers on frequency 127.85.
JETBLUE 292
127.85 for the Tower, JetBlue 292.
JETBLUE 292
Switching to 127.85 for the Tower, JetBlue 292.
RESCUE 80
L.A. Tower, Rescue 80.
RESCUE 80
L.A. Tower, this is Rescue vehicle 80.
TOWER
Rescue 80, L.A. Tower.
TOWER
Go ahead Rescue 80, this is L.A. Tower.
RESCUE 80
L.A. Tower, is 25 Right going to be closed? I'm going to request access across.
RESCUE 80
L.A. Tower, are you closing Runway 25 Right? I'm requesting permission to drive across it.
TOWER
Rescue 80, 25 Right, you can have access.
TOWER
Rescue 80, you have permission to access and cross Runway 25 Right.
RESCUE 80
Roger, thank you.
RESCUE 80
Understood, thank you.
TOWER
JetBlue 292, L.A. Tower.
TOWER
JetBlue 292, this is L.A. Tower.
JETBLUE 292
292 is with you for 25 Left, sir.
JETBLUE 292
JetBlue 292 is on your frequency, coming in for Runway 25 Left, sir.
TOWER
JetBlue 292, L.A. Tower. Number one, traffic off your right for the north side of the airport is a Delta 757. Wind 230 at 6. Runway 25 Left, cleared to land.
TOWER
JetBlue 292, L.A. Tower. You're first in line for landing. There is a Delta 757 off to your right heading for the north side of the airport. Wind is 6 knots from the southwest. Runway 25 Left, you are cleared to land.
JETBLUE 292
Cleared to land, 25 Left, JetBlue 292.
JETBLUE 292
Cleared to land on Runway 25 Left, JetBlue 292.
RESCUE 80
Rescue 80, next to land, Runway 25 Left.
RESCUE 80
Rescue 80, we're watching the next plane coming in to land on Runway 25 Left.
TOWER
Rescue 80, copy.
TOWER
Rescue 80, I've got you.
JETBLUE 292
Tower, JetBlue 292. Confirm condition of nose wheel?
JETBLUE 292
Tower, JetBlue 292. Can you confirm the condition of our front landing gear?
RESCUE 80
JetBlue 292 from Rescue 80, you had a lot of sparks but no fire. Keep everybody inside, we can get some air stairs for your people.
RESCUE 80
JetBlue 292, this is the rescue crew. We saw a lot of sparks when you touched down, but there’s no fire. Keep everyone on the plane for now, and we’ll bring some portable stairs over to get your people out.
JETBLUE 292
Okay, confirm no fire? Confirm no fire?
JETBLUE 292
Okay, can you double-check that? Are you sure there’s no fire?
RESCUE 80
Confirmed: no fire, no fire.
RESCUE 80
I’m certain: no fire, no fire.
JETBLUE 292
Thank you, sir. Good job.
JETBLUE 292
Thank you, sir. Great work out there.
RESCUE 80
292 from Rescue 80, could you shut the engines down?
RESCUE 80
JetBlue 292, this is the rescue team, could you go ahead and turn off your engines?
JETBLUE 292
Engines are shut down, sir.
JETBLUE 292
The engines are already shut down, sir.
RESCUE 80
Roger. This is Rescue 80, on your nose. I'll get some air stairs for you so we can get the passengers off and people on buses, okay?
RESCUE 80
Understood. I’m right here in front of the plane. I’m going to get those portable stairs brought over so we can unload the passengers and get them onto buses, alright?
JETBLUE 292
Thank you so much.
JETBLUE 292
Thank you so much.
RESCUE 80
292 from Rescue 80, passengers—is everybody okay inside?
RESCUE 80
JetBlue 292, checking on the passengers—is everyone doing alright in there?
JETBLUE 292
Yeah, everyone is fine inside. They're very happy to be on the ground.
JETBLUE 292
Yes, everyone is doing fine. I think they're just incredibly happy to finally be back on the ground.
RESCUE 80
Roger that.
RESCUE 80
Good to hear.
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