Conversation With ATC Was Odd, At Times Disjointed
A 24-year-old pilot who landed the Piper PA-28 he was flying on
Rockaway Beach just south of Kennedy airport Monday night could
have his license revoked.
The pilot, Jason Maloney, is a medical student at Georgetown
University in Washington. He had taken of from Republic Airport in
Farmingdale, Long Island, and a somewhat bizarre exchange with
ATC followed.
The exchange, which was recorded by liveatc.net, grew more odd
as it progressed. First, he reportedly requested a landing at
Kennedy Airport to drop off "a pastor doing medical missionary
work." That request was denied.
Maloney then asked if he was allowed to land on the beach. The
controller said "only in an emergency," because the beaches were
public. Maloney then asked if the controller knew of any private
beaches nearby. "Not in the city," the controller surmised. He was
advised to stay at or below 500 feet to remain in uncontrolled
airspace, to which he replied "we're going to go a little bit
lower."
But then, he said one of his passengers was sick, and that his
engine was "running a little teensy teensy bit rough" and that
while he was not going to declare an emergency, he was going to
land on the beach. The controller advised him that "that would be
an emergency," and "that will be at your own risk, not visible from
the tower." When asked if he needed any assistance, Maloney replied
"Nah .... you know what, we should be fine, but we're gonna make a
precautionary landing. Is that all right with you?"
Maloney landed the airplane safely, and while none of the
persons on board required hospitalization, the New York Daily
News reported that one, Chelsea Protter of Huntington NY,
threw up after the landing. She told the paper that she was
"feeling nauseous." The airplane, which belongs to a company called
"Plane Nonsense", had to be dragged out of the surf by a truck. The
wings were detached, and it was loaded onto another truck to
be taken to Boston. The London Daily Mail reports that after the
landing, Maloney asked what all the fuss was about, as that kind of
incident "happens in Alaska all the time."
Maloney was not tested for drugs or alcohol at the scene and
reportedly did not appear intoxicated. He was barred from talking
to the media by his parents, and about 24 hours after the landing
he was taken from their home to the hospital after reportedly
experiencing seizures. The FAA is investigating the incident, and
Maloney could face fines or loss of pilot privileges due to is
actions. No criminal charges have been filed.