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N4170V Goes Silent at JFK — Air Traffic Controller Reacts

Kennedy Steve

71,610 views

In this clip from JFK, the tower is attempting to communicate with N4170V, but the aircraft doesn’t appear to be hearing the controller. With direct communication not working, ATC begins asking other aircraft on the frequency — including Republic Airways Flight 5613 — to try contacting the pilot.

Former JFK air traffic controller Kennedy Steve breaks down what the controller is doing, why aircraft-to-aircraft radio relays can be useful, and what is going through a controller’s mind when an airplane unexpectedly stops responding.

Was it a radio problem? The wrong frequency? An audio-panel issue? Kennedy explains how ATC handles the situation when they don’t immediately know the cause.

Want to connect with Kennedy Steve? Email us at: peter@541co.com

Disclaimer:
The opinions expressed in this video are those of Kennedy Steve based on his experience as a retired Air Traffic Controller and are intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. This analysis is based on publicly available information, including ATC recordings, videos, and reports available at the time of publication.

This video is not an official accident investigation or a determination of fault. Aviation incidents are often complex, and new information may emerge after this video is published. Official findings are made only by the appropriate investigative authorities.

The goal of this channel is to educate viewers about air traffic control procedures, aviation safety, and the decision-making that takes place behind the microphone—not to criticize or assign blame to any individual or organization.

#airtrafficcontrol #atc #jfk #KennedySteve #aviation #pilot #jfkairport #RepublicAirways #N4170V #AviationSafety #airtrafficcontroller #cockpit #flying

20 Comments

@BenLovejoy 10 days ago

Missed opportunity to caution Brickyard for wake turbulence

@dankerman321 10 days ago

Couldn't tell you how many times over the years I've had pilots relay instructions to other pilots.. all professional and and helped make everyone's job easier.

@toddworthley8780 10 days ago (edited)

Everything worked out because all players involved wanted to make it work. It’s a little concerning for an airport that size in 2026 to have a dead spot like that for some small aircraft. Well done on the explanation here.

@RaceBanner_ 10 days ago

“Caution, wake turbulence: You’re following a Piper Saratoga off 22L on a 140 heading.”

@brianvogt8125 9 days ago

Nice relay work by Brickyard, but it's a bit scary for a pilot to receive clearance for take-off from somebody other than ATC.

@Mountain_Lobster 10 days ago

Thanks Kennedy Steve. Love the videos from the ATC side. My father was an ATC at YYB for 35 years before retiring. Always had a story or 2 to tell and since YYB is a shared military base , he always knew when military planes would be coming in. Watched a B-52 to touch and goes there before coming in to land and it blew a tire on landing. Had to close the airport until a crew could come up from the states to change it.

@ThenIShallCallYouPip_7447 10 days ago

Love the Channel. Glad you’re able to still educate us.

@Boodieman72 9 days ago

Good job on N4170V as well for relaying back the information ATC needed.

@McAmeron089III 9 days ago

Robert Burns quotes are ALWAYS welcome with me...one of my VERY favorite poets !

@J1947W 6 days ago

When we set up the Enroute Center for Afghanistan in 2005, the contractor recruited a group of us old guys that had been running non-radar training problems...The FAA and AF did not have people that knew how to work a non-radar analog operation. We set up a state-of-the art 1959 system that could handle 25-30 aircraft from several countries just using time and distance at 0300 in the morning

@Stuffandthings_ars 8 days ago

I bet the brickyard pilot didn’t get dressed to go to work thinking he’d be giving take off clearances that day😂

@zaxn1234 10 days ago

Love a refresh pull to see a new Kennedy Steve video pop up

@dropsosense1506 10 days ago

Fortunately tower did not have to call up the on call homing pigeon that covers that spot.

@SmokedPorkChop 8 days ago

I'm pretty sure I've heard that Brickyard pilot before at LAX. Once you hear that "We'll See Ya!" before....you never forget it.

@davidchutchings 10 days ago

Thanks for this video. You answered a question i didn’t know to ask. Most informative.

@Jenn_Redd 10 days ago

AI controllers sounds like the start of a SiFi movie where planes literally fall out of the sky. You are correct AI cannot problem solve and worse, is only as good as the data it "learns" from. I sure don't want to be one one of those test flights.

"I'm sorry, you are correct there was another plane on the runway, let's try this again, this time with no crashes."

@howlandowlle7953 9 days ago

. Luvit. And, I want to add, your use of maps is indispensable. I say, even if it might not seem like it's necessary for some stories, use it anyway. That with our imaginations is the best way for us to see over your shoulder on the real airfield and fill in the picture from the fast paced ATC patter.

@SarahVoth 9 days ago

Love the humor at the end! 😄

@hossmcgregor3853 8 days ago

Back in the 90s I was a cadet in Civil Air Patrol. We had an SAR mission down on the Gulf Coast, too far out for the radios to work, even with the duplex repeater. So we had to bring in a plane, call sign High Bird. CAP did have some aircraft equipped with air born repeaters. Those were seamless like using a standard repeater.
High Bird was not one of those, a radio operator on board had to manually relay any transmissions from the 4 ground teams and Mission Base.
More people have cell phones now, and coverage is a lot better, so cell phones would be the go-to plan now.