Delta Unites JetBlue, and American Airlines Face Heart-Stopping Emergency Landings Over New York Skies: Here is What You Need to Know

Published on December 15, 2025

The State of New York hosts some of the busiest airports and air corridors in the United States. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport and smaller airfields handle thousands of arrivals and departures daily. With such high volumes, unexpected situations sometimes force pilots to return to an airport or make a precautionary landing. This article summarises emergency landings and major aviation incidents reported by government authorities between January 2022 and November 2025. Information is derived from official releases by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the New York State Police (NYSP). Each incident description provides the date, aircraft type, flight details, circumstances leading to the emergency or landing, and known outcomes. The reference section lists official citations.

2022 and 2023

Government records indicate that 2022 saw few widely reported emergency landings in New York that required formal statements. While general aviation accidents occurred, they were investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and state agencies; no major commercial flights publicly declared emergencies in the state. In June 2023, the NYSP and the FAA investigated a single‑engine Orange Harmon Rocket that crashed near Porter, New York shortly after taking off from Skydive the Falls. The aircraft lost altitude and struck trees before impacting a field, fatally injuring the pilot[1]. The crash highlighted ongoing cooperative investigations between the FAA, NTSB and state law enforcement, but no mass‑casualty emergency landings were recorded in 2023.

Early 2024 – general aviation incidents

During February 2024, the NYSP responded to a Cherokee Archer that crashed onto the Southern State Parkway in the town of Babylon, Suffolk County. The plane, carrying two occupants, came down on the shoulder of the eastbound highway around 11:45 a.m. on 20 February. Both occupants were taken to hospitals with non‑life‑threatening injuries. The FAA and NTSB were notified, and the incident remains under investigation[2].

On 30 June 2024, a Piper Malibu Mirage crashed in a wooded area near Lake Cecil Road in Masonville, Delaware County. NYSP troopers used drones, all‑terrain vehicles and helicopters to locate the wreckage. All five occupants – members of a Georgia family traveling home after a youth baseball tournament – were fatally injured. Authorities reported that the aircraft had departed Oneonta’s Alfred S. Nader Regional Airport and was en route to West Virginia for refueling[3]. The NYSP, FAA and NTSB continue to investigate this tragic accident[4].

In September 2024, several general aviation incidents occurred:

• On 18 September, a single‑engine Seamax M‑22 seaplane experienced a landing‑gear malfunction while inbound to Skye Acres Airport in Lagrangeville. The pilot landed on the grass next to the runway. No injuries were reported and the FAA opened an investigation[5].
• The following day, 19 September, an AW119 helicopter performed a hard landing at Canandaigua Airport in western New York. Three people were on board, and the FAA stated that it would investigate the event[6].

These incidents illustrate the diversity of aircraft operating in New York – from small seaplanes to helicopters – and the importance of vigilant air‑traffic monitoring even at smaller airports.

Commercial airliner emergencies (Late 2024)

New York’s major airports experienced several commercial airliner emergencies during September 2024:

• On 23 September 2024, JetBlue Flight 2201, an Airbus A320 bound for Fort Lauderdale, departed John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) but soon returned to the airport around 3:45 p.m. after pilots reported a generator issue. The FAA noted that the aircraft landed safely and that no injuries were reported[7].
• Two days earlier, 21 September, JetBlue Flight 561 operated by an Airbus A220‑300 departed LaGuardia Airport for Palm Beach. Shortly after takeoff, crew members detected a burning smell in the cabin. The flight diverted to JFK and landed safely around 1:20 p.m., and the FAA launched an investigation[8].
• On the same day, a different flight, JetBlue Flight 1189, left JFK bound for San Diego. The crew reported smoke in the cargo compartment, prompting an immediate diversion. The aircraft landed at Salina Regional Airport in Kansas around 6:30 p.m. Passengers deplaned without injuries[9].

Two additional late‑2024 accidents involved general aviation aircraft:

• On 12 December 2024, a single‑engine Tecnam P‑2008 experienced an engine problem near Westchester County Airport. The plane crashed near Rye Lake, injuring both occupants. The FAA and NTSB are investigating the cause[10].
• On 20 December 2024, a twin‑engine Beechcraft BE95 made an emergency landing on Interstate 87 in Bethlehem after one engine failed. Three people were aboard; the FAA reported that there were no serious injuries[11].

Early 2025 – series of emergencies and precautionary landings

Early 2025 proved active for New York’s airspace. On 20 February 2025, the pilot of a Bell 407 helicopter made a precautionary landing on a baseball field around 6:45 a.m. after noticing engine anomalies. Two people were on board, and the FAA said there were no injuries[12]. A few days later, on 25 February, JetBlue Flight 967, operating from Westchester County to Palm Beach, diverted to JFK around 9 a.m. due to an engine issue[13].

Mid‑March saw multiple events:

• On 13 March 2025, Delta Air Lines Flight 141 traveling from Brussels to JFK encountered severe turbulence outside U.S. airspace. Pilots declared an emergency and the aircraft landed safely at JFK; the FAA later said it would investigate[14].
• On 16 March, Endeavor Air Flight 4814 (operated on behalf of Delta Connection) experienced an incident during a go‑around at LaGuardia Airport. The aircraft’s left wingtip struck the runway surface during the maneuver. Although there were no injuries, the FAA opened a formal investigation[15].
• In the early hours of 17 March, Cathay Pacific Flight 3195, a Boeing 747‑400 cargo flight bound for Toronto, returned to JFK around 12:30 a.m. after the crew detected a pressurization issue. The FAA said the aircraft landed without incident[16].

These cases underscore the range of issues—engine malfunctions, turbulence, pressurization faults—that can prompt pilots to return to the airport as a precaution.

Summer 2025 – commercial jet incidents

The summer of 2025 brought additional emergency landings at JFK:

• On 13 June 2025, Delta Air Lines Flight 405, a Boeing 767‑300 flying from San Francisco, reported a hydraulic system problem. The aircraft landed at JFK around 3:40 p.m., and the FAA began an investigation[17].
• On 5 June 2025, a Bell 407 helicopter made a precautionary landing at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn after the pilot noted engine issues. The FAA reported no injuries[18].

Mid‑ to late 2025 – engine‑related returns and crashes

As summer turned to autumn, a series of engine‑related incidents occurred:

• On 15 July 2025, JetBlue Flight 637, an Airbus A321 bound for the Dominican Republic, returned to JFK at 8:40 p.m. after the crew reported an engine issue. The FAA said the aircraft landed safely and would be inspected.
• On 13 August 2025, JetBlue Flight 547, an Airbus A320 operating between Long Island MacArthur Airport and Orlando, returned to JFK around 2:45 p.m. following a possible engine issue[19]. The FAA opened an investigation.
• Six days later, 19 August 2025, Air France Flight 9, a Boeing 777 bound for Paris, turned back to JFK around 2:15 a.m. due to engine concerns[20]. Passengers were rebooked after the aircraft landed safely.
• 2 September 2025 saw Republic Airways Flight 4379, an Embraer E175 operating for Delta Connection, depart LaGuardia for Nashville. The crew experienced engine issues and chose to land at JFK around 1:30 p.m.[21].
• On 27 September 2025, a Glasair II aircraft crashed in a field near Kobelt Airport in Ulster County. Only the pilot was on board, and the FAA and NTSB launched an investigation[22].

In October 2025, Frontier Airlines Flight 3546, an Airbus A320 traveling from San Juan, Puerto Rico, landed at JFK around 12:45 p.m. on 30 October after the crew reported an engine issue[23]. Finally, in early November 2025 (after our research cutoff), no further emergency landings were publicly reported by the FAA.

Observations and themes

The period from January 2022 to November 2025 shows that most emergency landings in New York involved engine anomalies, hydraulic or electrical issues, or unusual cockpit indications rather than catastrophic failures. In nearly every case, pilots followed established procedures, communicated with air‑traffic controllers and landed safely. The FAA’s official statements emphasise that these events are investigated thoroughly, and in many cases the cause is traced to component failures or errant indicators. The NYSP press releases demonstrate the broader range of aviation activity across the state, including small general‑aviation crashes that result in fatalities.

Large‑jet incidents at New York’s major airports were resolved without serious injuries, reflecting the resilience of modern aircraft and the effectiveness of crew training. Smaller aircraft accidents, such as the crashes in Porter (2023) and Masonville (2024), underscore the vulnerability of general‑aviation pilots to equipment failures and weather. As passenger numbers continue to rise, ongoing investment in safety systems, pilot training and rapid response will remain critical to ensuring that emergency landings in New York remain rare and survivable.

Reference list

1. NYSP press release on 2024 Southern State Parkway crash – New York State Police (February 2024)[2].
2. NYSP press release on Delaware County plane crash – New York State Police (July 2024)[3][4].
3. NYSP annual report (2023) – Porter plane crash – New York State Police 2023 Annual Report[1].
4. FAA statement on Seamax M‑22 landing gear incident – Federal Aviation Administration (September 2024)[5].
5. FAA statement on AW119 helicopter hard landing – Federal Aviation Administration (September 2024)[6].
6. FAA statement on JetBlue Flight 2201 generator issue – Federal Aviation Administration (September 2024)[7].
7. FAA statement on JetBlue Flight 561 burning smell – Federal Aviation Administration (September 2024)[8].
8. FAA statement on JetBlue Flight 1189 cargo smoke – Federal Aviation Administration (September 2024)[9].
9. FAA statement on Tecnam P‑2008 crash near Westchester County Airport – Federal Aviation Administration (December 2024)[10].
10. FAA statement on Beechcraft BE95 landing on Interstate 87 – Federal Aviation Administration (December 2024)[11].
11. FAA statement on Bell 407 baseball field landing – Federal Aviation Administration (February 2025)[12].
12. FAA statement on JetBlue Flight 967 engine issue – Federal Aviation Administration (February 2025)[13].
13. FAA statement on Delta Flight 141 turbulence – Federal Aviation Administration (March 2025)[14].
14. FAA statement on Endeavor Air Flight 4814 wing strike – Federal Aviation Administration (March 2025)[15].
15. FAA statement on Cathay Pacific Flight 3195 pressurization issue – Federal Aviation Administration (March 2025)[16].
16. FAA statement on Delta Flight 405 hydraulic issue – Federal Aviation Administration (June 2025)[17].
17. FAA statement on Bell 407 landing at Floyd Bennett Field – Federal Aviation Administration (June 2025)[18].
18. FAA statement on JetBlue Flight 547 engine issue – Federal Aviation Administration (August 2025)[19].
19. FAA statement on Air France Flight 9 engine issue – Federal Aviation Administration (August 2025)[20].
20. FAA statement on Republic Airways Flight 4379 engine issues – Federal Aviation Administration (September 2025)[21].
21. FAA statement on Glasair II crash near Kobelt Airport – Federal Aviation Administration (September 2025)[22].
22. FAA statement on Frontier Airlines Flight 3546 engine issue – Federal Aviation Administration (October 2025)[23].
23. FAA statement on JetBlue Flight 637 engine issue – Federal Aviation Administration (July 2025)[24].