Phê Vé
April 28, 2026 • 3 min read
A humorous tale of the clash between a United Airlines pilot and Newark air traffic control, highlighting the importance of communication in aviation.
High-Stakes Situations in the Skies
In the aviation world, it's not uncommon to witness conflicts between pilots and air traffic control (ATC), usually instigated by ATC. However, the story below presents an interesting exception involving a United Airlines pilot who had a less-than-stellar attitude towards Newark ATC, leading to an amusing twist of fate.
The Incident Details
The incident occurred around 12:30 PM on April 22, 2026, when a United Airlines Boeing 787-10 was preparing to land after a flight from Brussels (BRU) to Newark (EWR). Just before this Dreamliner was set to touch down, a tense exchange unfolded between the pilot and air traffic control.
The conversation went as follows:
- United Pilot: "United 995."
- Air Traffic Control: "United 995, proceed."
- Pilot: "Can you give me directions to land?"
- Air Traffic Control: "I know what I’m doing, just give me about five seconds."
- Pilot: "Okay, I’d like your phone number when you can."
Requesting a phone number from the controller was frankly unnecessary. The pilot could have reminded ATC more politely instead of expressing frustration.
A Humorous Conclusion
After landing and contacting ground control, the situation became even more amusing when it was revealed that the pilot who had spoken earlier was, in fact, the captain and not the first officer. Typically, it’s the non-flying pilot who communicates via radio, but the captain is always the one flying the plane during taxiing.
The dialogue continued with ground control, and once again, the pilot struggled to repeat the instructions clearly:
✈️ Tìm chuyến bay giá tốt
Đặt vé ngay với giá ưu đãi từ các hãng hàng không
- Ground Control: "United 995, hold short at AA before runway 22R."
- Pilot: "At AA hold short 22R, United 995."
Surprisingly, it took until the ninth attempt to clarify these instructions. Clearly, ATC maintained remarkable calm during this situation, a quality not every controller possesses.
The Importance of Accurate Communication
Air traffic control exhibited commendable professionalism and underscored the significance of reconfirming information in aviation communication. Such measures help prevent misunderstandings, as seen in a recent incident with Qatar Airways.
This pilot, along with the first officer, could benefit from additional training in radio communication. Even a trainee shouldn’t communicate poorly, let alone a pilot responsible for operating a heavy aircraft.
Useful Information for Vietnamese Travelers
For those planning to travel or work in the U.S., the first thing to note is the visa application process. To enter the U.S., you’ll need a B1/B2 travel visa, with an application fee of about $160 (approximately 3,800,000 VND). The processing time for a visa is around 1 to 2 months, so plan ahead.
The airline service in the U.S. is well-developed, and you can book flights from Vietnam to Newark with various airlines for round-trip prices ranging from 15 million VND to 25 million VND, depending on the time and carrier. Food and living costs in Newark can be higher than in Vietnam, with an average meal costing around 300,000 VND.
Conclusion
This situation provides us with an entertaining and insightful glimpse into the lives of those in the aviation industry. Despite moments of tension, effective and professional communication remains essential to ensure safety for everyone in the skies. What are your thoughts on this incident at Newark? Feel free to share your opinions!
Article reference and edit from: One Mile at a Time
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