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Thread: JFK 4L closed due to TURTLES

  1. #1
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    JFK 4L closed due to TURTLES

    After a wild night here at JFK we are looking at taxi times of over 1 1/4 due to 4L CLOSED due to several pilots reporting turtles on the runway.. Only at JFK !!!
    "You above all"

  2. #2
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    Re: JFK 4L closed due to TURTLES

    This isn't anything out of the ordinary. JFK's land is abundant with wildlife ranging from turtles, fox, jack rabbits, frogs, possum, raccoon, cranes, ducks, geese, and other species indigenous to wetlands. I've been out there many times and have seen large jack rabbits sprint across active runways. Port will send out their wildlife folks who will safely remove the turtles back to the swamp.

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    Moderator Matt Molnar's Avatar
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    Re: JFK 4L closed due to TURTLES

    General Departure Delays: Due to OTHER: RWY CONTAMINATION, traffic is experiencing Gate Hold and Taxi delays between 15 minutes and 29 minutes in length and decreasing.
    Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We have a small problem.
    All four engines have stopped. We are doing our damnedest to get them under control.
    I trust you are not in too much distress. —Captain Eric Moody, British Airways Flight 9

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    Moderator Matt Molnar's Avatar
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    Re: JFK 4L closed due to TURTLES

    Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We have a small problem.
    All four engines have stopped. We are doing our damnedest to get them under control.
    I trust you are not in too much distress. —Captain Eric Moody, British Airways Flight 9

  5. #5
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    Re: JFK 4L closed due to TURTLES

    RWY 4L/22R was never closed. There were turtkes on the RWY but they were being removed by PA Wildlife staff. This was causing some minor delays to departing traffic. The ATCT decided to use the 31s to minimize delay but that move may have backfired since there were too many aircrafts in the line up for 4L and it took a while to switch everything to the 31s.

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    Re: JFK 4L closed due to TURTLES

    Ahh, thanks for the clarification.
    Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We have a small problem.
    All four engines have stopped. We are doing our damnedest to get them under control.
    I trust you are not in too much distress. —Captain Eric Moody, British Airways Flight 9

  7. #7
    Senior Member moose135's Avatar
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    Re: JFK 4L closed due to TURTLES

    "Caution wake turbulence behind the departing turtle..."

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    Re: JFK 4L closed due to TURTLES

    Quote Originally Posted by moose135
    "Caution wake turbulence behind the departing turtle..."
    Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We have a small problem.
    All four engines have stopped. We are doing our damnedest to get them under control.
    I trust you are not in too much distress. —Captain Eric Moody, British Airways Flight 9

  9. #9
    Moderator Matt Molnar's Avatar
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    Re: JFK 4L closed due to TURTLES

    Many thanks to bluejuice for the scoop! This story is now spreading around the world but it was broken right here!

    USA Today picked up the story early on and linked back to us, YAY!

    NY Post picked up the story this afternoon, but gave us no props. Reuters and the AP have also picked it up and it's being syndicated all over the place...i.e. Gulf Times in Qatar. Channel 2 has it on their website as well, I'd imagine we'll see it in most of the local media outlets.
    Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We have a small problem.
    All four engines have stopped. We are doing our damnedest to get them under control.
    I trust you are not in too much distress. —Captain Eric Moody, British Airways Flight 9

  10. #10
    Moderator Matt Molnar's Avatar
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    Re: JFK 4L closed due to TURTLES

    Some new details...

    A departing plane did indeed run over some turtles around 9:30am.

    Port picked up 78 diamondback terrapins and released them away from the airport.
    Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We have a small problem.
    All four engines have stopped. We are doing our damnedest to get them under control.
    I trust you are not in too much distress. —Captain Eric Moody, British Airways Flight 9

  11. #11
    Administrator PhilDernerJr's Avatar
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    Re: JFK 4L closed due to TURTLES

    Gothamist picked up the article as well, with nice props: http://gothamist.com/2009/07/08/turtle_ ... runway.php
    Email me anytime at [email protected].

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    Senior Member Gerard's Avatar
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    Re: JFK 4L closed due to TURTLES

    What brought them out? Alll the heavy rain from yesterday?

  13. #13
    Moderator Matt Molnar's Avatar
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    Re: JFK 4L closed due to TURTLES

    Quote Originally Posted by Gerard
    What brought them out? Alll the heavy rain from yesterday?
    A Port spokesman said it is mating season.
    Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We have a small problem.
    All four engines have stopped. We are doing our damnedest to get them under control.
    I trust you are not in too much distress. —Captain Eric Moody, British Airways Flight 9

  14. #14
    Senior Member Gerard's Avatar
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    Re: JFK 4L closed due to TURTLES

    Quote Originally Posted by GothamSpotter
    Quote Originally Posted by Gerard
    What brought them out? Alll the heavy rain from yesterday?
    A Port spokesman said it is mating season.
    Oh that would definitely do it. Headline should read "Horny Turtles Delay Flights". :lol:

  15. #15
    Senior Member Mateo's Avatar
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    Re: JFK 4L closed due to TURTLES

    Fear the Turtle!

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