As an aviation geek, I love interesting air traffic control interactions. Well, here’s an entertaining one, where an air traffic controller at Newark International Airport (EWR) isn’t happy with a pilot. She gives really confusing instructions, only to then say “it’s not confusing for me,” when the pilot can’t follow along.
In this post:
Pilot frustrates air traffic controller at Newark
VASAviation has the details of an incident that happened in the very early morning hours of July 5, 2025 (so the night of July 4). While Newark has been in the news for all kinds of issues lately, this is a generally quiet time of the night. This incident involves a 44-year-old Twin Commander 840 with the registration code N840JW.
You just have to watch the roughly four-minute clip for yourself below to really appreciate what’s going on.
To summarize, you have two planes on the ground taxiing — N840JW (a private aircraft) and an Emirates Boeing 777 bound for Athens.
The pilot of N840JW makes some wrong turns, and gets a little lost. Okay, maybe he should’ve been a little more prepared, but the core of the issue is that the air traffic controller’s instructions are nearly impossible to follow.
There’s value in air traffic controllers keeping their transmissions as concise as possible, so that they’re easy to follow. After all, pilots will often scribble down the instructions, so there’s not a need for some overly complicated narration.
After a miscommunication over a turn, the plane eventually ends up nearly taxiing onto an active runway, at which point the air traffic controller gets angry — “what are you doing, man?” After then giving an additional series of instructions, I love how she says “it’s not confusing for me,” in regards to her own instructions.
I mean, I’d hope that you don’t find your own set of instructions to be confusing. Also, your entire job centers around this plot of land and these taxiways, so one would certainly think that it’s possible that something may still be confusing to someone else, who isn’t focused on these exact taxiways for 40 or more hours per week.
This comment on the VASAviation video sums it up nicely, and gave me a good laugh:
Possible pilot deviation, I have a number for you to call. Advise when ready to copy. Ready to copy. Okey, so the number is 9 – that’s on the bottom right of your keypad, they you go 2 buttons to the left for number 7, then 3 which is diagonally across the keypad….
What an exhausting interaction
Okay, in fairness, the pilot should’ve probably been a bit more familiar with the layout of Newark, and should’ve pulled up charts. But given how the situation unfolded, he was apologetic and calm, unlike the controller.
Meanwhile in the case of the controller, I’d say that her narration only added to the confusion, rather than making things simpler. Furthermore, the taxiway setup where this situation happened is anything but simple, so I can see how the pilot would get confused, especially in conjunction with the instructions.
Regardless, telling a pilot “it’s not confusing for me” has to be one of the most absurd things we’ve heard an air traffic controller say in response to their own instructions. It’s probably even worse than that LaGuardia controller who loves to say “fuel management is your priority, not mine.”
I couldn’t imagine this air traffic controller actually working at Newark when it’s at capacity, because she seems to just about be at her limit with this interaction…
Bottom line
An air traffic controller at Newark Airport got quite angry at a pilot, after he made a couple of wrong turns. While I think the pilot should’ve probably been a bit better prepared, the air traffic controller only added to the confusion, with her very lengthy instructions. I actually think she was being well-intentioned (at least initially), but sometimes less is more.
What do you make of this ATC interaction?
I've been a controller for 38 years, at some of the busiest airports. She's inexcusable. But then she's probably a NYer. They suck with attitude frequently. To then become a smart ass on frequency was so totally wrong. I've heard some super funny things transmitted, by both controllers and pilots. But they were obviously done with intentional humor and when the traffic situation safely permitted. She's just sounding like a smart ass bitch. Pilot 1,...
I've been a controller for 38 years, at some of the busiest airports. She's inexcusable. But then she's probably a NYer. They suck with attitude frequently. To then become a smart ass on frequency was so totally wrong. I've heard some super funny things transmitted, by both controllers and pilots. But they were obviously done with intentional humor and when the traffic situation safely permitted. She's just sounding like a smart ass bitch. Pilot 1, controller 0. Oh yea. Which one of us never seriously screwed up? When you live in a glass house, don't throw stones! Because your time is coming...guaranteed.
Ok. I listened to it again. She means no harm. But she is who she is, has that smart ass NE attitude which is just normal communications for her. So who ever you are, sorry. You just can't help it. But as one pilot once said, so glad she isn't my wife. And you really need to cut that BS phraseology way down and try to keep it simple. If the pilots don't understand, yes,...
Ok. I listened to it again. She means no harm. But she is who she is, has that smart ass NE attitude which is just normal communications for her. So who ever you are, sorry. You just can't help it. But as one pilot once said, so glad she isn't my wife. And you really need to cut that BS phraseology way down and try to keep it simple. If the pilots don't understand, yes, I know you do, then there has been no communications and all that time and transmission was for nothing. Can't blame it on "stupid pilots", yea I know when the mike is not triggered, we all do sometimes. You listen to a few tapes of yourself and see if you can improve communicating, because that's what you must do. Oh yea, I'm a 60 year pilot also.
"Don't try to describe the ocean if you've never seen it"
The controller is not alone in that control tower. She began by trying to expedite the safe departure of the Commander. She is coordinating with several other controllers and those taxiing aircraft. She did let her frustration (or was that just outstanding NJ attitude) show a little. She continued to adapt to the situation and work for the best solution. The pilot of...
"Don't try to describe the ocean if you've never seen it"
The controller is not alone in that control tower. She began by trying to expedite the safe departure of the Commander. She is coordinating with several other controllers and those taxiing aircraft. She did let her frustration (or was that just outstanding NJ attitude) show a little. She continued to adapt to the situation and work for the best solution. The pilot of the Commander is a good pilot. He made some wrong turns, but realized he was at a runway and since he had not been cleared to cross, he called the controller. His remark about the instructions being 'confusing' was as much an admission as an accusation. Imagine you're approaching one of those NJ Turnpike interchanges at night, your wife is next to you telling you which way to go and your son is looking at the GPS from the backseat and telling you which lane you should be in. Confusing? As a former controller and a private pilot, I have always thought that every controller should have a private pilots certificate and every pilot should be required to have a minimum number of hours of familiarization at various ATC facilities.
Love the Buffet reference and your analysis is pretty good too
It may be due to recent changes at Newark, which add to the confusion.
This kind of stuff is just related to the USA (mostly NY). People saying the airport is busy… well I have news for you there are plenty of other busy airports in the world with properly trained controllers. I have never heard this kind of nonsense phraseology other than in the USA also. It’s the 3rd world, sorry thats the reality, it shows also in the amount of accidents and incidents related to ATC in...
This kind of stuff is just related to the USA (mostly NY). People saying the airport is busy… well I have news for you there are plenty of other busy airports in the world with properly trained controllers. I have never heard this kind of nonsense phraseology other than in the USA also. It’s the 3rd world, sorry thats the reality, it shows also in the amount of accidents and incidents related to ATC in the US.
Maybe take a look once how extremely professional the London area is run !
Controller womansplained it to pilot...
She was trying to do him a favor by putting him ahead of the heavy. I don’t think her instructions were confusing at all. She got annoyed with him because he almost entered an active runway without clearance.
I’m a former pilot and 30 year veteran air traffic controller at MIA and she didn’t do anything wrong.
I fly for a major airline and have operated in and out of KEWR many times. One might think that the pilot of the private aircraft was unable to follow simple instructions, but I'm here to tell you that those taxiway intersections look like a sea of pavement when you're sitting close to ground in the type of aircraft he was in. It is challenging. Even pilots in larger aircraft who are sitting 15-20' above...
I fly for a major airline and have operated in and out of KEWR many times. One might think that the pilot of the private aircraft was unable to follow simple instructions, but I'm here to tell you that those taxiway intersections look like a sea of pavement when you're sitting close to ground in the type of aircraft he was in. It is challenging. Even pilots in larger aircraft who are sitting 15-20' above the ground have difficulties in these type of intersections where several taxiways converge. It can be like walking into a huge ballroom, where you can't see all the exits; just a gigantic space. Disorienting.
I spent many, many hours in control towers and radar rooms. I trained many new controllers during my 40+ years. The most important thing a controller does is "communicate!" The EWR controller wasn't really doing this well and probably needs a refresher in proper phraseology. She should have been more patient and helpful. Pilots sometimes make mistakes, as all of us do; a controllers' job includes helping them which can avoid or minimize unsafe actions!
Honestly, what does private aviation have on the grounds of major airports? Look, if you have the time and aircraft, flying out of a private one instead of congesting a major gateway like EWR. This is unless you are delivering medical supplies, you should have no business interfering with the grounds of others. Not sorry.
Add in the fact Teterboro is a few miles away and much better set up for business aviation.
Then again, this pilot may well have screwed up the circling approach to runway 1.
I'm guessing there's a reason they put her on the night shift.
Newark is a mess. I avoid it at all costs.
Quelle surprise... yet another unprofessional US ATC employee.
I fly into Newark all the time (airline pilot). If you operate there, you better know what you are doing. Yes, the controller was a bit brusk, but that is normal for EWR/JFK. Not a place for amateurs. I imagine it is very frustrating for the controllers. Not an excuse for being unprofessional. I think the controller in this case was not out of line, just expressing her frustration.
Normalising the controller's attitude is a part of the problem. The problem being av safety.
I ageee the pilot needs to have a better familiarity. No doubt about that.
This however cannot excuse the controller's behaviour. They have a critical role, and a level-headed, cooperative approach is fundamental for a safe operation.
Agreed. I'm also a pilot (though not for the airlines) and there was absolutely nothing in the conversation that was out of line or inappropriate. At large, very busy airports like this one, pilots are expected to have their act together, be on their "A game", know their stuff, and not get lost or make wrong turns while taxiing. Missing a turn while taxiing, making a wrong turn, failing to hold short, or otherwise failing...
Agreed. I'm also a pilot (though not for the airlines) and there was absolutely nothing in the conversation that was out of line or inappropriate. At large, very busy airports like this one, pilots are expected to have their act together, be on their "A game", know their stuff, and not get lost or make wrong turns while taxiing. Missing a turn while taxiing, making a wrong turn, failing to hold short, or otherwise failing to correctly follow taxi instructions is a very serious thing, and can quickly lead to a disaster, or at least to delays and complications for lots of others. The pilot of the corporate aircraft screwed up, and remained disoriented as he continued. The controller was indeed a little snarky, but not excessively so, and her comments were within the bounds of normal operations. If you've got such a fragile ego that this would have upset you, then you have no business being behind the controls of a tricycle, never mind an aircraft operating at an airport like EWR. This conversation is a complete non-issue. A slow news day I assume.
I’m a long-retired controller, so acknowledge I am somewhat out of the loop, but when I was in the business, I always ratcheted up my patience for aircraft I knew were unfamiliar, and tried to go out of my way to give slower and clearer instructions. In the long run, it usually paid off.
US ATCs: "We're too busy and overworked."
Also US ATCs: "Let's create a completely unnecessary conflict on frequency to create more workload for ourselves."
Lol I'd bet London ATC isn't working 26 days a month with 4 days off and 60 hour work weeks.