Isn’t it kind of wild how one air traffic controller can build such a “name” for himself, and not in a good way?
Delta pilot makes wrong turn at JFK, gets scolded
YouTube channel ATC AUDIO has posted a video of quite an interesting interaction involving *that* air traffic controller at New York Kennedy Airport (JFK). JFK air traffic controllers are known for their attitudes, and despite that, this guy manages to stand out from the pack for how unforgiving he is.
This incident happened on February 19, 2026, and involves Delta flight DL806, an Airbus A321neo operating to Las Vegas Airport (LAS).
To this air traffic controller’s credit, he’s very good at being accurate, though he tends to rattle off a lot of instructions very fast, and sometimes people do make minor mistakes.
The interaction between the air traffic controller and the Delta pilot began as follows:
ATC: “Delta 806, behind the second JetBlue off your left, you can taxi to 4L via right on Bravo and hold short of Juliet.”
Delta pilot: “All right, behind the second JetBlue here, right turn Bravo, hold short of Juliet to 4L, Delta 806.”
Moments later, the Delta plane accidentally made a right turn onto taxiway Alpha instead of Bravo. Of course the pilot shouldn’t have done that, but it was hardly the most critical mistake that could be made, especially as planes were taxiing in the same direction on both Alpha and Bravo, and there was no other traffic.
This is the point at which things get heated:
ATC: “Delta 806, that’s… that’s crazy, hold your position!”
Delta pilot: “Okay, we’re holding the position, Delta 806.”
ATC: “Oh sh… you literally… I said it and you read it back. Behind the second JetBlue, right on Bravo, short of Juliet, you’re on Alpha.”
Delta pilot: “Delta 806, I made a mistake, don’t freak out on me. If you want I can make the u-turn and go wherever you want. I make mistakes.”
ATC: “Oh no, no, no, we’re not gonna do that! You’re not gonna play the victim here when nobody has started crashing out. Delta 806, continue Alpha, hold short of Kilo Echo.”
Delta pilot: “Alpha short of… God… short of Kilo Echo, Delta 806.”
This isn’t the end of the saga. The Delta plane taxies to where it’s supposed to be, and then the pilot obviously feels like he’s being ignored for a bit as punishment, which leads to this interaction (EDCT stands for “expect departure clearance time”):
Delta pilot: “Delta 806, are we just sitting here until we miss our EDCT, cause you’re so mad at me?”
ATC: “Delta 806, one more comment from you that has nothing to do with air traffic, you’re gonna get a phone number to the tower and my supervisor. Do not be doing this on this frequency, do you understand me?”
Ultimately the Delta plane was able to depart a few minutes later, without further incident…
Side note — as I sit here writing this and am listening to the ATC audio, Ford just walked in (with no context) and said “JFK?” He couldn’t care less about avgeek stuff, so I’m proud!
This controller really can’t help himself, can he?
There are a countless number of clips out there from this controller talking down to pilots. More often than not, the ones that go viral involve foreign pilots, where there’s some sort of a language barrier, and this guy is just unforgiving.
The fundamental issue seems to be that this guy manages a small plot of land every day of his life, so he knows it like the back of his hand. This is his whole world, and he assumes everyone else should understand it as well as he does. Meanwhile this is only one of many airports that pilots operate at.
Pilots are going to make mistakes sometimes, but this guy always can’t help but overreact. Like, is “that’s crazy” really necessary commentary, when a pilot makes a simple mistake? And then of course he defends himself by suggesting he’s not “crashing out.” Talk about holding yourself to a high standard!
Admittedly the Delta pilot didn’t act perfectly either. He got defensive right away (presumably triggered by the controller starting his statement with “that’s crazy”). And then he had a sassy comment later while waiting for further instructions. I do love how this controller takes on such a parental figure, with how he says “do you understand me?” Oy.
Bottom line
JFK’s most infamous air traffic controller got into a heated argument with a Delta pilot. The Delta pilot made a wrong turn, leading the controller to say “that’s crazy.” In turn, the Delta pilot got a bit defensive, acknowledging he made a mistake, and then the controller responded by claiming that the pilot couldn’t play the victim card, because the controller wasn’t “crashing out.”
What do you make of this JFK ATC interaction?
