Delta A330 Pilots Makes Emergency Landing at New York

dailyblitz.de 9 hours ago

NEW YORK— A Delta Air Lines (DL) flight from Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) to New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) declared an emergency due to a hydraulic system failure. The Airbus A330-300 (registration N804NW), operating as flight DL183, reported the issue while descending over U.S. airspace.

The crew informed Boston Center of the malfunction and subsequently requested emergency assistance on landing, citing the loss of nose wheel steering and the need to lower the landing gear manually. The aircraft came to a full stop on Runway 31L and awaited a tug for towing.

Delta A330 Emergency Landing

While en route from Rome to New York, DL183 initiated descent when the pilots informed Boston Center of a hydraulic failure in one of the aircraft’s systems. This prompted an immediate declaration of emergency.

As per ATC communications, the crew noted their inability to use the nose wheel steering system, a critical function during ground taxiing.

The aircraft, carrying 279 people on board and 23,000 lbs of fuel, requested that emergency services be ready upon arrival.

The pilot specifically asked for a tug vehicle to tow the aircraft after landing due to the loss of steering capability. Additionally, the landing gear had to be lowered manually, further complicating the situation.

ATC Coordination and Visual Approach to Runway 31L

Air Traffic Control (ATC) quickly coordinated with the flight, maintaining communication during the aircraft’s descent and vectoring it for a visual approach to JFK’s Runway 31L. The flight crew opted for a 15-mile base-to-final pattern to prepare for the manual gear deployment.

As confirmed via ATC recordings, the crew remained calm and responsive while negotiating approach vectors and descent altitudes. The airport’s emergency response units were on standby, and the pilot confirmed Kennedy in sight, requesting PAPI lights for final alignment.

ATC and the pilot discussed final approach speeds, with the aircraft eventually cleared for 145 knots on final, adjusted briefly to 191 knots for sequencing.

The Delta A330 touched down safely on Runway 31L with fire and rescue teams positioned nearby. Due to the loss of nose wheel steering, the aircraft came to a controlled stop on the runway and remained stationary, requiring external assistance to vacate the strip.

The pilot confirmed to the JFK tower that the aircraft could not taxi under its own power, and arrangements were already in place for a tug to tow the aircraft to the gate. All post-landing procedures were handled smoothly, with no injuries reported.

ATC and Pilots’ Comms

Here’s the Complete Conversation between Delta A330 Pilots and JFK ATC, as flagged by You can see ATC:

{ts:21}
Pilot: Boston, Delta 183 heavy. We’re leaving uh 380 for 240.
{ts:29}
Pilot: 310 knots max assigned, and uh, we will be declaring an emergency for uh, hydraulic failure of one system.
{ts:40}
ATC: Roger. And are you planning on stopping on the runway?
Pilot: Uh, we will have to stop on the runway.
{ts:46}
Pilot: No uh… no nose wheel steering today.
ATC: Okay. And uh, do you want fire to be out there?
{ts:54}
Pilot: Uh, yes. Uh, we’d have fire and rescue, and we should have uh, locally coordinated for a tug to meet us.
{ts:69}
ATC: Delta 183, cross maintain 12,000. The Kennedy altimeter is 30.06. Cross Calverton at 12,000, 30.06.
{ts:80}
ATC: Delta 183, cross at 25 final at 259.
Pilot: Delta 183.
{ts:103}
ATC: Contact New York 125.7. I passed along that you’re planning on stopping.
Pilot: 125.7, Delta 183. Thanks for your assistance.
{ts:112}
Pilot (to NY Center): Three heavy with you. Leveling 12,000 without…
{ts:122}
ATC: Delta 183 heavy, here’s your approach. Are you able to do the visual to 31 left?
{ts:129}
Pilot: Uh, yeah, we can do a visual for 31 left. Do you have PAPI’s available?
{ts:137}
Pilot: Do you have PAPI’s available on 31 left?
ATC: Delta 183 heavy, descend maintain 9,000.
{ts:147}
ATC: Descend maintain 9,000, Delta 183 heavy.
{ts:147}
ATC: Delta 183 heavy, when able, say fuel in pounds.
{ts:157}
Pilot: Delta 183 heavy, uh, 23,000 lb of fuel. 279 souls on board.
{ts:171}
Pilot: Approach, Delta 183 heavy.
ATC: Delta 183 heavy, go ahead.
Pilot: Yeah, we’ll be requesting a 15-mile base to final. We’ll have to uh, manually lower our landing gear today.
{ts:180}
ATC: Delta 183 heavy, turn heading 270, descend 5,000.
Pilot: Heading 270, descend to 5,000, Delta 183 heavy.
{ts:188}
ATC: Delta 183 heavy, 4 Z, turn 24.
{ts:204}
ATC: Delta 183 heavy, just maintain 3,000.
Pilot: Maintain 3,000, Delta 183 heavy.
{ts:204}
Pilot: And uh, we’re going to begin slowing at 200 knots.
{ts:213}
ATC: Delta 183 heavy, roger. Your discretion.
{ts:213}
ATC: Delta 183 heavy, descend maintain 2,000. When able, report sight of field, one o’clock.
{ts:224}
Pilot: Uh, descend 2,000. We have Kennedy in sight.
{ts:232}
ATC: Thank you, Delta 183 heavy. Join final for 31 left.
{ts:239}
ATC: Join final for 31 left, cleared approach, Delta 183 heavy.
{ts:239}
ATC: Delta 183 heavy, just for planning purposes, what speed are you planning to do on final?
Pilot: Say again for Delta 183?
{ts:256}
ATC: Delta 183 heavy, just for planning purposes, what speed are you looking to do on final?
Pilot: Uh, we expect about 145 for Delta 183.
{ts:261}
ATC: Delta 183 heavy, roger. Copy. Can you do 191 knots today?
Pilot: 191, Delta 183 heavy.
{ts:272}
Tower (ATC): Delta 183 heavy, just inside for three-one left. Heavy Kennedy Tower, wind 350 at 9, altimeter 30.06. Be advised, emergency equipment is standing by. Continue.
Pilot: Continue, Delta 183 heavy.
{ts:290}
ATC: Delta 183 heavy, there will be traffic in position and departing for the left prior to your arrival. Runway 31 is left clear.
Pilot: 31 left clear, copy traffic, Delta 183.
{ts:328}
ATC: Delta 183 heavy, I understand you have to hold there and get a tow?
Pilot: Yeah, it’s permanent for Delta 183. We’ve got no nose wheel steering, so we’ll need a tug into the gate.
{ts:334}
ATC: Copy that, Delta 183 heavy. You can change to frequency 121.65. We’ll put the other emergency equipment and everybody else on that frequency as well.
{ts:345}
Pilot: Copy, 121.65, Delta 183.