A pilot’s stunned reaction was caught on air traffic control audio after a Delta connection flight mistakenly contacted the wrong air traffic control tower while landing at LaGuardia Airport.
Flight 5752, operated by Republic Airways, was minutes away from landing at LaGuardia on March 15 when the pilot flying the connection flight realized that he had been calling the control tower at John F. Kennedy Airport — roughly 10 miles away.
The shocking mishap was revealed in air traffic control audio obtained by CBS News.
The audio also captured another pilot, who was the one requesting clearance to land, in absolute disbelief.
“That’s crazy,” the unidentified pilot uttered after the stunning exchange.
Air traffic controllers at JFK Airport were left baffled when flight 5752 contacted them requesting clearance to land.
“That’s who?…I’m sorry, where are you?” the air traffic controller was heard in the audio saying.
“2-mile final, Brickyard 5752,” the pilot confirmed.
“2-mile final where?” the JFK tower controller asked.
“Runway 4,” said the pilot.
“At LaGuardia?” the controller asked, to which the pilot confirmed, “Yes, ma’am.”
“This is Kennedy Tower, please go to LaGuardia Tower,” the controller quickly responded.
“Oh my goodness. Alright,” the pilot said.
The flight was then contacted by the proper team in LaGuardia, with the pilot confirming that they had the correct lines this time.
“Yeah, 5752, we’re going around,” the pilot said.
A spokesperson for Republic Airways told The Post that the flight initiated a go-around after the slip-up and landed at LaGuardia Airport without incident.
Delta Airlines confirmed its flight crew was not aboard the aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration is currently investigating the incident.
The mix-up happened exactly a week before Air Canada Express Flight 8646 smashed into a Port Authority truck on LaGuardia Airport’s Runway 4 — killing two pilots and injuring 41 others.
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