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Pilot orders coffee during emergency landing @ KBUF today
A Chautauqua Airlines pilot humorously requests Tim Hortons coffee while declaring an emergency in Buffalo.
Summary
Chautauqua Flight 3117 experienced a landing gear issue shortly after departure from Buffalo and was forced to return for an emergency landing. Despite the potential danger, the pilot remained remarkably calm, engaging in lighthearted banter with air traffic control and requesting coffee and wings upon arrival.
Analysis
The recording captures Chautauqua Flight 3117, an Embraer ERJ-145, returning to Buffalo Niagara International Airport (KBUF) after encountering a landing gear issue. The pilot explains that the gear is down and appears locked, but because they couldn't retract it or had indications of a malfunction, they needed to land and have the aircraft inspected on the runway. This is a standard safety procedure to ensure the gear doesn't collapse upon touchdown or during the rollout.
What makes this recording notable is the contrast between the high-stakes nature of declaring an emergency and the pilot's incredibly relaxed demeanor. He refers to the emergency fire trucks as "pretty little red lights" and specifically requests a cup of Tim Hortons coffee—a staple of Buffalo culture—to be waiting for him on the ground. The controller joins in the levity, offering to provide Buffalo wings as well.
The exchange also features "company banter" when another Chautauqua flight (3225) enters the frequency. The two pilots jokingly place bets on whether the crippled aircraft will be able to taxi off the runway or if it will require a tow. This type of communication, while informal, actually serves to lower the tension in the cockpit and the control tower, provided the necessary safety protocols are still being followed.
Technically, the flight requested an "extended downwind," which gave the crew extra time to run their emergency checklists and prepare the cabin for a possible rough landing. By landing and stopping on the runway for a visual inspection by ground crews, the pilot prioritized safety over airport efficiency, a decision supported by the controllers who diverted other traffic to accommodate the emergency.
Original ATC Communication
Plain English Translation
APPROACH
Chautauqua 3117, go ahead.
APPROACH
Chautauqua 3117, go ahead with your message.
CHATAUQUA 3117
Looks like we're going to have to return to the field. We'll need about eight minutes or so to run some checklists.
CHATAUQUA 3117
It looks like we’re going to have to turn back to the airport. We need about eight minutes or so to go through our emergency checklists.
APPROACH
Chautauqua 3117, Roger. Turn left heading 190.
APPROACH
Understood, Chautauqua 3117. Turn left and fly a south-southwesterly direction toward 190 degrees.
CHATAUQUA 3117
190, Chautauqua 3117.
CHATAUQUA 3117
Turning to 190, Chautauqua 3117.
APPROACH
Chautauqua 3117, do you want any equipment standing by?
APPROACH
Chautauqua 3117, do you want the emergency fire and rescue trucks standing by for your arrival?
CHATAUQUA 3117
We'll get right back to you here in about 30 seconds.
CHATAUQUA 3117
We’ll get right back to you on that in about 30 seconds.
CHATAUQUA 3117
Approach, Chautauqua 3117.
CHATAUQUA 3117
Air traffic control, this is Chautauqua 3117.
APPROACH
Chautauqua 3117.
APPROACH
Go ahead, Chautauqua 3117.
CHATAUQUA 3117
Yeah, what we're going to do right now is go ahead and declare the emergency. There are 50 passengers on board, three crew members. We would like some pretty little red lights waiting for us when we get on the ground. The landing gear is down and locked in the locked position. If you'll go ahead and let Tower know, we'll let them know that we're going to land and keep the aircraft on the runway. As soon as the ground crew can verify that the landing gear is locked, we'll go ahead and taxi it off the runway and bring it into the gate. Sound like a plan?
CHATAUQUA 3117
Yeah, what we’re going to do right now is go ahead and officially declare an emergency. We have 50 passengers on board and three crew members. We’d like those pretty little red lights from the fire trucks waiting for us when we get on the ground. The landing gear is down and shows as being locked in place. If you’ll let the Tower controllers know, we’ll tell them we’re going to land and stop the plane right on the runway. As soon as the ground crew can confirm the wheels are actually locked, we’ll taxi it off the runway and bring it to the gate. Sound like a plan?
APPROACH
That's good. And how much fuel on board?
APPROACH
That sounds good. And how much fuel do you have on board?
CHATAUQUA 3117
Right now we've got about 6,000 pounds, so roughly two and a half hours of flight.
CHATAUQUA 3117
Right now we’ve got about 6,000 pounds of fuel, which is roughly two and a half hours of flight time.
APPROACH
And 15 people? Is that 15 passengers and three crew, or 15 total?
APPROACH
And did you say 15 people? Is that 15 passengers and three crew, or 15 total?
CHATAUQUA 3117
5-0. 50 passengers, three crew. Total of 53.
CHATAUQUA 3117
Five-zero. 50 passengers and three crew. A total of 53 people.
APPROACH
Chautauqua 3117, Roger. And do you need me to extend you out any more, or is your checklist done?
APPROACH
Understood, Chautauqua 3117. Do you need me to keep you flying away from the airport for a bit longer, or are your checklists finished?
CHATAUQUA 3117
Checklists are almost done. Give us about five more minutes if you want to put us on an extended downwind. We already have everything set up, and then we'll just come in from ELMA. Sound like a plan?
CHATAUQUA 3117
The checklists are almost done. Give us about five more minutes if you want to keep us flying parallel to the runway for a bit. We already have everything set up, and then we’ll just fly in toward the airport from the ELMA waypoint. Sound like a plan?
APPROACH
Chautauqua 3117, we'll do that.
APPROACH
Chautauqua 3117, we'll take care of that for you.
CHATAUQUA 3117
Thank you kindly. And if you could have a cup of Tim Hortons waiting for me on the ground, the day will become better.
CHATAUQUA 3117
Much appreciated. And if you could have a cup of Tim Hortons coffee waiting for me when I land, that would really make my day.
APPROACH
No problem. You want wings too?
APPROACH
No problem. You want some chicken wings with that?
CHATAUQUA 3117
Oh, definitely. Thank you.
CHATAUQUA 3117
Oh, absolutely. Thank you.
APPROACH
Chautauqua 3117, turn left heading 140.
APPROACH
Chautauqua 3117, turn left to a compass heading of 140 degrees.
CHATAUQUA 3117
140, Chautauqua 3117.
CHATAUQUA 3117
Left to 140, Chautauqua 3117.
CHATAUQUA 3117
Approach, Chautauqua 3117. We’re all set for that approach.
CHATAUQUA 3117
Buffalo Approach, Chautauqua 3117. We’re all ready to start our descent for landing.
APPROACH
Chautauqua 3117, turn right heading 280.
APPROACH
Chautauqua 3117, turn right to a compass heading of 280 degrees.
CHATAUQUA 3117
280, Chautauqua 3117.
CHATAUQUA 3117
Heading 280, Chautauqua 3117.
APPROACH
Chautauqua 3117 is three miles from ELMA. Turn right heading 300, cross ELMA at or above 3,500, cleared ILS Runway 32 approach.
APPROACH
Chautauqua 3117, you're three miles from the ELMA checkpoint. Turn right to heading 300, cross ELMA at or above 3,500 feet, and you're cleared for the instrument landing on Runway 32.
CHATAUQUA 3117
ELMA 3,500 or above and cleared ILS 32 for Chautauqua 3117.
CHATAUQUA 3117
At or above 3,500 at ELMA and cleared for the Runway 32 instrument landing, Chautauqua 3117.
CHATAUQUA 3225
Buffalo Approach, Chautauqua 3225, 13,000 for 11,000 with the weather.
CHATAUQUA 3225
Buffalo Approach, this is Chautauqua 3225, descending from 13,000 down to 11,000 feet, and we have the latest weather report.
APPROACH
Chautauqua 3225, Buffalo Approach. Roger, descend and maintain 5,000. You can expect vectors for visual approach Runway 32. Company on the approach has got a gear problem and is going to have to stop on the runway, so it's going to be closed for a little bit. You can probably expect to hold for a short period.
APPROACH
Chautauqua 3225, Buffalo Approach. Understood, descend and stay at 5,000 feet. We'll guide you toward Runway 32 for a visual landing. Another plane from your airline ahead of you has a landing gear issue and will have to stop on the runway, so it’ll be closed for a while. You’ll likely have to circle and wait for a bit.
CHATAUQUA 3225
Okay, down to 5,000. We heard about that problem, and we're betting that he's going to have steering, so we'll bet he'll be able to get off.
CHATAUQUA 3225
Okay, down to 5,000 feet. We heard about that trouble, and we're betting he'll still have steering control, so we're betting he'll be able to taxi off the runway and clear it.
CHATAUQUA 3117
Oh, so you're placing bets on me now?
CHATAUQUA 3117
Oh, so you're placing bets on me now?
CHATAUQUA 3225
Well, since the gear didn't come up, you'd think you're still on the ground, so you should still have it.
CHATAUQUA 3225
Well, since your landing wheels didn't pull back into the plane, the computer probably thinks you're still on the ground, so you should still have access to that system.
CHATAUQUA 3117
I'm not worried about it. We had maintenance there from this morning. I'm betting against you.
CHATAUQUA 3117
I’m not sweating it. We had the mechanics looking at it this morning. I’m betting you’re wrong about that.
APPROACH
Chautauqua 3117, contact Tower 120.5.
APPROACH
Chautauqua 3117, switch over and talk to the guys in the control tower on frequency 120.5.
CHATAUQUA 3117
20.5, we’ll see ya.
CHATAUQUA 3117
Switching to 120.5, catch you later.
APPROACH
And the aircraft advises that they would like to stop on the runway and have someone check them out.
APPROACH
The pilots are reporting that they want to come to a full stop right on the landing strip so someone can inspect the aircraft.
CHATAUQUA 3117
Hey Tower, Chautauqua 3117. Just outside Depew and that is affirmative—just a double-check with the gear once we get down.
CHATAUQUA 3117
Hey Tower, this is Chautauqua 3117. We’re just past the Depew area and that’s correct—we just want a quick double-check of our landing wheels once we’re down.
TOWER
Chautauqua 3117, Buffalo Tower, Roger. Wind is calm, Runway 32, cleared to land.
TOWER
Chautauqua 3117, this is Buffalo Tower, I understand. There's no wind to worry about, you're all set to land on Runway 32.
CHATAUQUA 3117
Cleared to land 32, Chautauqua 3117.
CHATAUQUA 3117
We’re cleared to land on 32, Chautauqua 3117.
TOWER
Star Trek 36, taxi to the ramp is approved, and the traffic’s on a six-mile final. He will be stopping on the runway.
TOWER
Star Trek 36, you’re clear to drive over to the parking area. Just a heads up, the plane coming in is six miles out and he’s going to be stopping right on the runway after he lands.
TOWER
All right, now he's going to have to land and stop on the runway. I guess they’re going to determine at that point if they'll be able to taxi off or if they need to be towed off. So, it could be [that we get] you right in, or it could be quite some time before we get a tug out there to get them home.
TOWER
Alright, he’s going to have to land and stay put on the runway. I guess they’ll decide then if they can drive off or if they need to be towed. So, we might get you in right away, or it could be a long wait while we get a tow tractor out there to bring them in.
CHATAUQUA 3225
No problem. And we think you'll be able to taxi off.
CHATAUQUA 3225
That’s no problem. And we’ve got a feeling they’ll be able to drive off just fine.
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