A Thrilling Landing, Followed by a Shocking Twist

A pilot’s first landing at KJFK is nerve-wracking enough, but what happened after the landing shocked everyone.

Jessica Cox

Friday, May 13, 2022 at 10:54 AM ET

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The author taxiing by the tower at KJFK. [Photo: Blue Slate]

Key Takeaways:

The author, a sport pilot, undertook an ambitious flight in her Ercoupe to land at KJFK for a "Limb Different Airport Day," aiming to inspire children with disabilities despite the significant logistical challenges of flying a small aircraft into a major airport.
Through extensive coordination with air traffic control and airport authorities, including rerouting commercial jets, the unprecedented landing at KJFK was successfully executed.
Despite a jet blast incident shortly after landing that damaged the Ercoupe, the event was ultimately successful in its mission to inspire the attending children and demonstrate that challenges can be overcome.

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Earlier this spring, we set out to take the Ercoupe cross-country to inspire kids with disabilities for the third year in a row. This year, I would be in New York to speak at an annual convention for SITA Aero. SITA provides software and IT systems for airports and aircraft globally. When they heard about our work at Rightfooted Foundation, my nonprofit that aims to inspire children through aviation, they wanted to sponsor a Limb Different Airport Day. I would fly into KJFK in the Ercoupe to visit with a group of children and people with disabilities.

First, I did not have permission to fly into a Class Bravo primary airport as a sport pilot. Plus, the Ercoupe’s home base is Tucson, where I live, so it would be at least a five-day journey to KJFK.