There are 10,000+ air traffic controllers in the United States, who have incredibly stressful jobs that keep our skies safe. Among those air traffic controllers, there’s one guy at New York Kennedy Airport who has made a name — or perhaps more accurately, a voice — for himself based on his attitude. Here’s the latest example of him exercising his authority to teach a pilot a lesson.
In this post:
LOT Boeing 787 Dreamliner pilot taught lesson by ATC
This incident happened at around 11PM on November 18, 2025, and involves LOT Polish Airlines flight LO27, which was operating from New York (JFK) to Warsaw (WAW).
As the plane is taxiing out, before it reaches the runway, the LOT pilot tells the air traffic controller that they need two minutes. A minute later, the controller gives the LOT plane takeoff clearance. The LOT pilot responds that they need one more minute for cabin preparations.
Now, it’s worth acknowledging that pilots should be ready to go when they get to the runway, to avoid delaying other planes. But it’s also worth mentioning that this likely happened due to something outside of the control of the pilots, like a passenger getting up or trying to use the lavatory as the plane was about to depart. Furthermore, at 11PM, it was far from rush hour at the airport, so it’s not like there was a queue of 20 planes.
So the air traffic controller gives the LOT plane clearance to enter the runway, and then to exit it a couple of taxiways down, and get back into the takeoff queue. Now, the LOT pilot just reads back the “enter 31L” portion of the instructions, so the air traffic controller responds by once again emphasizing the taxiway instructions.
The LOT pilot responds by saying that they’re now ready to go. Keep in mind that the plane isn’t even on the runway yet, and isn’t delaying any other plane. However, clearly the controller wanted to emphasize that his instructions were “final,” and that no one would question them.
So the air traffic controller responds “no, no, no, we’re not doing this,” and he once again emphasizes that they’ll need to taxi off the runway. This ultimately creates a series of events that only add to congestion, and make things unnecessarily complicated. The LOT pilot had to be handed over to the ground controller, only to then a minute later be handed back to the tower controller.
This air traffic controller loves to prove a point!
As I said above, air traffic controllers have really stressful jobs, and I respect what they do. However, I feel like their jobs are difficult enough, without this guy artificially making them more difficult.
Here’s the thing — the controller was right to instruct the pilots to taxi around if they weren’t ready for takeoff. However, once they said they were ready for takeoff, before even entering the runway, the air traffic controller could’ve just put his pride and ego to the side, and given them takeoff clearance.
There’s simply no denying that the controller made the situation more complicated, rather than less complicated. And we have no reason to believe that the LOT crew was somehow intentionally not preparing the cabin for takeoff, rather than something coming up at the last minute.
Just contrast this controller’s attitude to the Newark (EWR) controller in the below interaction, where an Air Premia Boeing 787 made a wrong turn, and missed the runway. The controller politely tells them what they did, and gives them clear instructions, without making a big deal of it. He even says “I’ll put the lights up, nice and bright for you.”
It’s hilarious, because the Air Premia pilot directly asks the controller if they need to be given a phone number for a pilot deviation, and the controller responds “no, that’s fine, it’s a mistake, that happens, it’s not a big deal, you didn’t do it on purpose.” If this had happened at JFK with that other controller, he would’ve blown a gasket.
Bottom line
Everyone’s favorite air traffic controller at New York Kennedy Airport was excited to have the opportunity to teach pilots a lesson, after they weren’t quite ready to go when they got to the runway. The controller was right to ask them to taxi off the runway. However, when they said they were ready to go before even entering the runway, he could’ve just given them takeoff clearance. But instead he wanted to prove a point, and make everyone’s life more complicated…
What do you make of this JFK ATC interaction?
I'm going to disagree that "U S controllers are the worst." Airlines have specific procedures, certified by their airline their "FAA" and IATA that are accomplished at specific times. Now, I will say that in my 28 years, the New York area approach, tower and ground controllers are, many times, curt with the pilots. The controllers forget who controls the aircraft AND the that captain (by law) has the final say as to the operation...
I'm going to disagree that "U S controllers are the worst." Airlines have specific procedures, certified by their airline their "FAA" and IATA that are accomplished at specific times. Now, I will say that in my 28 years, the New York area approach, tower and ground controllers are, many times, curt with the pilots. The controllers forget who controls the aircraft AND the that captain (by law) has the final say as to the operation of the aircraft PERIOD! The LOT captain said, "two minutes". That is an estimate, by the way. The pilot can take as much time as necessary to SAFELY prepare the aircraft for whatever task is required. I know that one SVP of corporate safety personally called the FAA Administrator and contacted the two Senators of the carrier's state for a formal complaint against ONE NAMED controller. That controller was put on administrative leave and a notation in his personnel record.
Disagree Win.
Isn't the most likely option that the controller had already resequenced the takeoff queue, and so inserting the LOT flight back in would actually make things more complicated?
This is why ATC and TSA need to be replaced with computers.
Having flown in and out of the US for years the controllers are globally amongst the worse with egos like glass. Just listen to LHR v JFK controllers - nothing to prove vs a crisis of masculinity!
Power and control is an ego issue, not a safety issue, which it was not according to the article. Sounds like a long vacation is indicated for the ATC operator.
I'm team ATC. If you can't comply precisely when requested you've got to do what it is ATC wants you to do. YOU don't get to decide you need "2 more minutes" and hold everyone else up, the airport doesn't work on your schedule. The other assumption is that "1 minute", "2 minutes" is precise enough ATC is somehow supposed to take that for granted. You're either go or no-go and ATC makes decisions based on that. Takeoff is not a collaborative process.
the problem is before the guy even entered the runway he made clear he was ready for takeoff and ATC made him go around in the queue again when he could have easily cleared him for takeoff.
Chad, your argument would apply if this happened on RWY. But it didn't, by the time LO reached it, they were ready for takeoff. They weren't holding anyone back.
The lesson for LO's crew should be that when departing from US airport they should not try to make ATC's job easier by proactively informing them about a possible disturbance. If they haven't, they would take off as planned. Just keep the information to yourself until...
Chad, your argument would apply if this happened on RWY. But it didn't, by the time LO reached it, they were ready for takeoff. They weren't holding anyone back.
The lesson for LO's crew should be that when departing from US airport they should not try to make ATC's job easier by proactively informing them about a possible disturbance. If they haven't, they would take off as planned. Just keep the information to yourself until you're on the runway, only then inform the ATC if the problem still persists.
US ATC is unprofessional beyond belief and someone needs to do something about it.
Obsolete and flawed humans teaching another obsolete and flawed humans.
This would easily be prevented by present day technology.
This fake Eskimo would easily be prevented by present day technology.
Can't prevent weirdo copying an alias. The fake with your inferiority complex needs to leech on the great Eskimo name to get attention.
Another flawed human issue.
I would imagine it's a really tough job controlling planes at JFK. I'd cut the guy some slack. I doubt anyone criticizing this controller would last a day in that job.
!!!BREAKING NEWS!!! AIR TRANSAT AIRLINES FROM CANADA IS SHUTTING DOWN AS OF DECEMBER 10TH
!!!BREAKING NEWS!!! fake Eskimo FROM SOMEWHERE IS STILL FAKE AS OF DECEMBER 10TH
Hmmm...I don't necessarily agree. Air Traffic Controllers are in short supply in the US. They are overworked in a system that is underfunded and relies on a lot of old and outdated technology. They just spent a month+ without pay thanks to an idiotic government shutdown that puts enormous burdens on ATC and everyone else BUT the lawmarkers who create the political impasse to begin with. If the LOT pilots were not ready, then they...
Hmmm...I don't necessarily agree. Air Traffic Controllers are in short supply in the US. They are overworked in a system that is underfunded and relies on a lot of old and outdated technology. They just spent a month+ without pay thanks to an idiotic government shutdown that puts enormous burdens on ATC and everyone else BUT the lawmarkers who create the political impasse to begin with. If the LOT pilots were not ready, then they have good reason to ask for more time, but 1-2 minutes is a long one in complex airport operations. Whatever their reason was, back in the taxi line it is.
Rubbish. Being overworked is not an excuse to take a course of action that will create even more workload for yourself and everyone else. Clearing them for take off would be easier for the crew, for the controller and for everyone else involved.
The controller in question simply lacks basic professionalism on a level that would prevent him from even making burgers at my local McDonald's. Such person should not be responsible for human lives.
Stupid obese yank ATC gets mad at professional European pilot, nothing new to see here...
"it’s worth acknowledging that pilots should be ready to go when they get to the runway" - WTF????? That's not how it works. Nor ATC nor any other entity tells pilots when they should or shouldn't be ready. ATC is a navigational service and it needs - must - respect operational constraints.
Honestly, the LO pilots should've just refused that moron's instruction and camp at the beginning of the runway until he either issues...
"it’s worth acknowledging that pilots should be ready to go when they get to the runway" - WTF????? That's not how it works. Nor ATC nor any other entity tells pilots when they should or shouldn't be ready. ATC is a navigational service and it needs - must - respect operational constraints.
Honestly, the LO pilots should've just refused that moron's instruction and camp at the beginning of the runway until he either issues a takeoff clearance or the supervisor comes in and fires the idiot in the tower. If it takes two days, be it.
The US ATC is way out of line, unprofessional beyond belief. I'd rather fly to Uganda than to JFK.
To be fair: ugandan airspace is a bit less congested than JFK, so the controllers are probably a bit more chill
Cool. I'll try to convince my boss that doing a more complicated job is an excuse for being less competent.
Uganda be kidding me.
Every story about rude obnoxious atc and always American.
Maybe not rush hour at JFK, but if you're #1 for takeoff, you need to be ready to go. Honestly the controller was a pro. Moved them back onto the taxi way to get themselves sorted and then released them.
That's what Xi said.
@ China -- All of that is fair, except they ended up being ready to go before even entering the runway.