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Turtles take over JFK Airport
Hundreds of diamondback terrapins delay flights at JFK Airport during their annual nesting migration.
Summary
During the summer of 2011, JFK International Airport experienced a massive "invasion" of diamondback terrapins migrating from Jamaica Bay to lay eggs. This recording captures the calm but busy coordination between air traffic control, ground crews (Car 97), and multiple pilots as they spot and remove turtles from Runway 4 Left. The event led to significant departure delays as the slow-moving reptiles repeatedly wandered into the path of departing jets.
Analysis
This incident is a classic example of the unique wildlife management challenges faced by airports built near sensitive ecosystems. JFK Airport is located adjacent to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, and every June and July, diamondback terrapins emerge from the brackish water to find sandy nesting spots. Unfortunately, the ideal nesting grounds often lie on the other side of the airport's runways. While bird strikes are a more common aviation concern, these turtles represent a different kind of "FOD" (Foreign Object Debris) that can damage aircraft tires or be sucked into engines if struck at high speeds.
The recording is notable for its professional yet slightly amused tone. Controllers and pilots handle the situation with the same procedural rigor they would use for a mechanical emergency, using standard phrases like "cancel takeoff clearance" and "hold in position." The sheer volume of turtles becomes apparent as pilot after pilot—from JetBlue, American Airlines, and British Airways—reports new sightings just moments after the ground crew (Car 97) clears the previous ones.
A key technical aspect shown here is the coordination between the Tower and airport operations. Car 97 is tasked with "sweeping" the runway, a high-stakes job on an active airfield. The controller must balance the heavy departure demand of a major hub like JFK with the safety necessity of a clear runway, ultimately leading to several aircraft being told to hold their positions or cancel their takeoff rolls entirely.
In the years following this 2011 event, JFK authorities installed specialized "turtle barriers"—plastic piping and fencing—to help redirect the terrapins away from the runways. Despite these efforts, the "turtle delays" remain a seasonal quirk of JFK operations that pilots and controllers have come to expect, serving as a reminder of the intersection between high-tech infrastructure and local biology.
Original ATC Communication
Plain English Translation
ATC
American 1009, there’s a report of a turtle on the runway. Do you want to have it removed first?
ATC
American 1009, we’ve got a report of a turtle out on the runway. Do you want us to have someone remove it first?
PILOT
Sure.
PILOT
Yeah, please.
ATC
American 1009, cancel takeoff clearance. Hold in position.
ATC
American 1009, you’re no longer cleared for takeoff. Stay right where you are on the runway.
PILOT
Holding in position, American 1009. We were wondering where those things were.
PILOT
Staying right here on the runway, American 1009. We were actually wondering where those little guys had gotten to.
ATC
Car 97?
ATC
Ground vehicle 97, you there?
GROUND
Car 97, sir.
GROUND
This is Car 97, sir.
ATC
Car 97, just verify you’re at Kilo Bravo, correct?
ATC
Car 97, just confirming you’re waiting at taxiway Kilo Bravo, is that right?
GROUND
I'm on the service road across from Kilo Bravo and 4 Left, ready to remove the turtle.
GROUND
I’m on the service road right across from taxiway Kilo Bravo and Runway 4 Left, ready to go grab the turtle.
ATC
Car 97, traffic in position. Proceed on Runway 4 Left. Remain clear of Runway 31 Left. Report clear.
ATC
Car 97, there's a plane waiting right there. Go ahead onto Runway 4 Left. Stay away from the intersecting Runway 31 Left. Tell me when you’re off the pavement.
GROUND
Car 97, proceeding on 4 Left, holding short. Remaining clear of 31 Left. Will call clear.
GROUND
Car 97, heading onto 4 Left now, stopping before the crossing. Staying off 31 Left. I’ll call you when I’m out of the way.
ATC
JetBlue 1002, Kennedy Tower.
ATC
JetBlue flight 1002, this is the Kennedy control tower.
PILOT
Go ahead.
PILOT
Go ahead, Kennedy.
ATC
JetBlue 1002, use caution. The departure before you is flight number American 1009—there’s something on the runway.
ATC
JetBlue 1002, be careful out there. The plane leaving ahead of you is American 1009—there’s an object on the runway we're clearing.
PILOT
Okay, thanks.
PILOT
Okay, thanks for the heads up.
GROUND
Car 97, clear of 4 Left, sir.
GROUND
Car 97 is off Runway 4 Left now, sir.
GROUND
Car 97, Roger.
GROUND
Car 97, understood.
PILOT
Tower, American 1009.
PILOT
Tower, this is American flight 1009.
ATC
American 1009?
ATC
American 1009, go ahead?
PILOT
Be advised, 30 feet into the takeoff roll on the left side of the centerline, there's another turtle.
PILOT
Just so you know, about 30 feet into my takeoff run on the left side of the center line, there’s another turtle.
ATC
Okay, there's another one on the runway?
ATC
Okay, so you're saying there's another one on the runway?
PILOT
He was there. Thank you.
PILOT
He was definitely there. Thank you.
ATC
Car 97?
ATC
Car 97, are you there?
GROUND
Car 97, sir. I’m going to remain on the frequency. I heard that.
GROUND
Car 97 here, sir. I’m staying on this radio channel; I heard that report.
ATC
JetBlue 1002, do you want to wait for the turtle to be inspected?
ATC
JetBlue 1002, do you want to wait while we go look for that turtle?
PILOT
Please.
PILOT
Yes, please.
ATC
And Car 97, stay in position.
ATC
And Car 97, hold your position for a moment.
GROUND
I'm at Kilo, holding short of 4 Left.
GROUND
I’m at taxiway Kilo, waiting just back from the edge of runway 4 Left.
ATC
Car 97, traffic in position. Proceed on Runway 4 Left. Remain clear of Runway 31 Left.
ATC
Car 97, there's a plane waiting on the runway, but go ahead and drive onto 4 Left. Just stay away from the crossing runway 31 Left.
GROUND
Car 97, proceeding on 4 Left, holding short of 31 Left. Remaining clear.
GROUND
Car 97, moving onto 4 Left, and I’ll stop short of 31 Left. Staying clear of it.
GROUND
Tower, Car 97. Clear of 4 Left.
GROUND
Tower, this is Car 97. I'm off and clear of runway 4 Left.
ATC
Car 97, Roger. And Car 97, was the turtle removed?
ATC
Car 97, I hear you. And Car 97, did you get that turtle off the runway?
GROUND
Affirmative, sir. Turtle removed and clear of 4 Left.
GROUND
Yes sir, we've got the turtle and we are safely off runway 4 Left.
ATC
JetBlue 1002, wind 050 at 3. Runway 4 Left, cleared for takeoff.
ATC
JetBlue 1002, the wind is light at 3 knots. You're all set to take off on runway 4 Left.
PILOT
4 Left, cleared for takeoff, JetBlue 1002.
PILOT
Taking off on 4 Left, JetBlue 1002.
PILOT
And Tower, JetBlue 38. We located another one right now, to the right of us. There’s a turtle also.
PILOT
Hey Tower, this is JetBlue 38. We just spotted another one right now, just to our right. There’s another turtle out here too.
ATC
Okay, you're at Kilo, JetBlue 38?
ATC
Got it. JetBlue 38, are you currently on taxiway Kilo?
PILOT
Yeah, that’s affirmative.
PILOT
Yes, that’s where we are.
ATC
Car 97?
ATC
Car 97, you copy?
GROUND
Exactly where we are, right behind us to our right.
GROUND
It's right where we're parked, just behind us and to our right.
ATC
Okay.
ATC
Understood.
GROUND
Roger, sir. Back to Kilo, Car 97.
GROUND
I'm on it, sir. Car 97 is heading back to taxiway Kilo.
ATC
Yeah, it’s in front of the JetBlue Embraer that’s in front of the British Airways.
ATC
Right, it’s just ahead of that JetBlue regional jet that’s sitting in front of the British Airways plane.
GROUND
Roger, sir.
GROUND
Got it, sir.
PILOT
Tower, JetBlue 1002.
PILOT
Tower, this is JetBlue 1002.
ATC
JetBlue 1002?
ATC
Go ahead, JetBlue 1002?
PILOT
Just passed Kilo Bravo taxiway. There was one just off on the left side of the edge of the runway.
PILOT
We just passed the taxiway called Kilo Bravo. There was a turtle just off to the left side, right at the edge of the runway.
ATC
Thank you. Car 97, report of a turtle at Kilo Bravo on the runway as well.
ATC
Thanks. Car 97, we have another report of a turtle on the runway near Kilo Bravo as well.
GROUND
Roger, sir. Car 97 copies.
GROUND
Understood, sir. Car 97 has that.
ATC
American 1015, report of a turtle at the edge of the runway. Do you want to continue or wait?
ATC
American 1015, we've got a report of a turtle at the edge of the runway. Do you want to keep going or wait a bit?
PILOT
We’ll wait. And there’s another one here abeam the numbers, turned around and heading back towards the side.
PILOT
We’ll wait. And there’s another one here right alongside the runway entrance numbers; it turned around and is heading back toward the grass.
ATC
Car 97, let me know. More turtles on the runway. Advise when you’re ready to go get them.
ATC
Car 97, heads up. We have more turtles on the runway. Let me know when you’re ready to go out and grab them.
GROUND
Car 97 is at Kilo Bravo and 4 Left and I am ready to enter the runway, sir.
GROUND
Car 97 is at the intersection of taxiway Kilo Bravo and Runway 4 Left, and I’m ready to drive onto the runway now, sir.
ATC
Car 97, proceed on Runway 4 Left. Remain clear of Runway 31 Left.
ATC
Car 97, you're cleared to drive on Runway 4 Left. Just stay away from the crossing runway, 31 Left.
GROUND
Car 97, proceed on 4 Left. Remain clear of 31 Left.
GROUND
Car 97, driving onto 4 Left now. I'll stay clear of 31 Left.
GROUND
Car 97, clear of 4 Left. Two turtles removed, sir.
GROUND
Car 97 is off Runway 4 Left. I've successfully picked up two turtles, sir.
ATC
Car 97, thank you.
ATC
Thanks, Car 97.
PILOT
Tower, believe it or not, American 663. There's another turtle right here at the hold short, traveling towards the runway. He’s not on it yet.
PILOT
Tower, believe it or not, this is American 663. There’s another turtle right here at the stop line before the runway, heading toward the pavement. He’s not on it yet.
ATC
Car 97, copy?
ATC
Car 97, did you get that?
GROUND
Car 97 copies, sir.
GROUND
Car 97 heard you, sir.
PILOT
American 663, the turtle in front of you?
PILOT
American 663, is that turtle right in front of your plane?
PILOT
Yeah, they're off to my right. There's two of them, and then there's another third one kind of off our nose about 100 yards.
PILOT
Yeah, I see them off to my right. There are two of them, and then a third one is right in front of us about a hundred yards away.
ATC
Okay, American 663, just hold your position. There's a vehicle to your left that's going to go collect them.
ATC
Alright, American flight 663, just stay right where you are. There's an airport vehicle to your left heading over to pick them up.
PILOT
Okay, copied that.
PILOT
Okay, I understand.
PILOT
And Speedbird 178 Heavy, we had one crossing in front of us by this path, heading to the runway as well.
PILOT
And for the large British Airways flight 178, we just had one crawl across our path, heading toward the runway as well.
ATC
Speedbird 178, thank you.
ATC
British Airways 178, thanks for the report.
GROUND
Tower, two turtles removed. Car 97.
GROUND
Tower, we've cleared two turtles off the field. This is the airport vehicle, Car 97.
GROUND
Car 97, thank you. And British Airways reported a turtle in the vicinity of Kilo and Kilo Charlie heading towards the runway.
GROUND
Thanks, Car 97. The British Airways crew also reported a turtle near the intersection of taxiways Kilo and Kilo Charlie, heading for the runway.
GROUND
Roger, sir. En route.
GROUND
Got it, sir. We're on our way there now.
ATC
American 663, do you want confirmation that the turtle is not on the runway, or are you ready to depart?
ATC
American 663, do you want us to confirm the runway is clear of turtles, or are you ready to take off?
PILOT
Yeah, he's behind us now, American 663.
PILOT
Yeah, that one is behind us now, American 663.
ATC
Runway 4 Left, cleared for takeoff.
ATC
You are authorized to take off on Runway 4 Left.
PILOT
Okay, we’re going to cancel takeoff clearance. There are some more behind us.
PILOT
Actually, we’re going to stay put and cancel that takeoff authorization. We've spotted even more of them behind us.
ATC
American 663, cancel takeoff clearance. Hold in position.
ATC
American 663, takeoff authorization is cancelled. Stay right where you are on the runway.
PILOT
Pausing and holding, American 663.
PILOT
Stopping and holding our position, American 663.
ATC
Car 97?
ATC
Car 97, are you there?
GROUND
Car 97, sir.
GROUND
Car 97 here, sir.
ATC
Car 97, report of turtles around the American on the runway. Can you assist?
ATC
Car 97, we have a report of turtles around the American Airlines plane on the runway. Can you go help out?
GROUND
Affirmative, sir. I am at Kilo Alpha and 4 Left. Entering the runway.
GROUND
Yes, sir. I’m at the intersection of taxiway Kilo Alpha and Runway 4 Left. I'm heading onto the runway now.
ATC
Car 97, proceed on Runway 4 Left.
ATC
Car 97, you're cleared to drive onto Runway 4 Left.
GROUND
Proceeding on 4 Left. Hold short or clear of 31 Left.
GROUND
Driving on 4 Left now. I’ll make sure to stay back and keep clear of the intersecting Runway 31 Left.
GROUND
Tower, Car 97 is clear of 4 Left. Turtles removed, sir.
GROUND
Tower, Car 97 is back off Runway 4 Left. All the turtles have been removed, sir.
ATC
Car 97, Roger.
ATC
Copy that, Car 97.
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