American Airlines fresh York to London Flight with 777 Makes Emergency Landing

NEW YORK- An American Airlines (AA) Boeing 777-300ER operating flight AA106 from New York (JFK) to London Heathrow (LHR) was forced to return shortly after departure due to a serious medical emergency involving a passenger on September 25, 2025.

The crew declared a PAN-PAN shortly after takeoff, reporting a possible heart attack on board. The aircraft descended to 10,000 feet and turned back to JFK, where it landed safely on Runway 22R with emergency services standing by.

Photo: Clément Alloing

American Airlines Emergency Landing at JFK

American Airlines flight AA106, operated by a Boeing 777-300ER (registration N725AN), departed JFK on its scheduled transatlantic service to London Heathrow. The climb was interrupted when the pilots notified air traffic control of a critical medical issue onboard, requesting priority handling.

The flight crew first leveled the aircraft at 11,000 feet before declaring a PAN-PAN to New York ATC. The captain informed controllers that a male passenger, reportedly in his late 30s, was suffering from a suspected heart attack and his condition was deteriorating.

ATC coordinated an immediate return to JFK, vectoring the aircraft back for an approach to Runway 22R.

On approach, the crew reported 209 passengers onboard and 123,600 lbs of fuel remaining. Emergency vehicles were deployed and positioned along the runway in anticipation of the landing. Despite the overweight return, the aircraft touched down without incident and taxied to its assigned gate.

Photo: Clément Alloing

ATC and Flight Crew Coordination

Air traffic recordings reveal clear and professional coordination between the pilots and controllers. Once the PAN-PAN was declared, ATC prioritized AA106, providing vectors and altitude clearances to expedite its return.

Controllers also relayed requests for additional details, including the passenger’s condition, age, and gender, which the captain confirmed.

The crew selected Runway 22R for the landing and maintained constant communication with approach and tower controllers. Emergency medical teams were alerted ahead of arrival, ensuring immediate response upon touchdown.

Photo: Cado Photo

ATC and Pilots’ Comms

Here’s a detailed transcript between an American Airlines pilot and New York JFK ATC as flagged by You Can See ATC:

{ts:20}
ATC: 106 heavy, Air.
Pilot: Yes sir, with you, coming out of 2.5, 2.0 for 5.

{ts:24}
ATC: 106, 70, contact, maintain 6000.
Pilot: Climb, maintain 6000. American 106.

{ts:36}
ATC: American 106 heavy, turn left heading 090.
Pilot: Left heading 090, American 106 heavy.

{ts:46}
ATC: American 106 heavy, fly heading 040. Maintain 11,000.
Pilot: Heading 040, up to 11,000. American 106 heavy.

{ts:56}
ATC: American 106 heavy, contact departure 118.17.
Pilot: 118.17, have a great day. American 106 heavy.

{ts:73}
Pilot: Approach, good evening. American 106 heavy, out of 7.5 for 11,000.

{ts:84}
ATC: Direct CORRE.
Pilot: American 106 heavy.

{ts:95}
ATC: Maintain 12,000.
Pilot: 12,000, American 106 heavy.
Pilot: And we’re going to have to declare a PAN-PAN here. We have a medical emergency on board.
ATC: Roger, going back to Kennedy?
Pilot: Affirmative.

{ts:107}
ATC: Climbing 11, American 106. 106, heading 090, descend to 10,000.
Pilot: 090 and 10,000, American 106 heavy.

{ts:120}
ATC: Contact New York Departure 135.9.
Pilot: 135.9, American 106 heavy.

{ts:129}
Pilot: And what was the heading you wanted for American 106 heavy?
ATC: Right turn heading 090.
Pilot: 090, American 106 heavy.

{ts:134}
Pilot: I’m just trying to get the nature of the medical emergency and a gate number.
ATC: We don’t have a gate number yet, sir.

{ts:147}
ATC: Nature of emergency?
Pilot: Passenger is having a heart attack. We just need to return, that’s the basic thing.

{ts:158}
Pilot: Need some time to get some checklist done.
ATC: Of course, American 106 heavy, no problem. We’ll have some delay back here as you get set up.

{ts:168}
ATC: Current is Yankee at Kennedy. You can expect ILS runway 22 right. Would you prefer 22 left or 22 right?
Pilot: Prefer 22 right, American 106.
ATC: You can expect ILS runway 22 right, Yankee is current.

{ts:187}
ATC: When you get a moment, I need fuel remaining in pounds and souls on board.
Pilot: 123,600 lbs of fuel, souls on board: 209.

{ts:204}
ATC: Thank you very much, sir. American 106 heavy, turn right heading 110.
Pilot: Turning 110, American 106 heavy.

{ts:212}
ATC: You can turn right heading 180.
Pilot: Turning 180, American 106 heavy.

{ts:223}
ATC: If you’ve got a moment, age and gender of the passenger?
Pilot: Male, late 30s.
Pilot: They’re telling us it’s not looking good.

{ts:248}
ATC: Roger, just let me know when you are ready to come back in.
Pilot: Looks like we’re ready to go back, American 106.

{ts:253}
ATC: Okay, perfect. American 106 heavy, turn right heading 270, descend and maintain 6,000.
Pilot: 270 and 6,000, American 106 heavy.

{ts:274}
ATC: One last question, do you happen to have a gate number for American 106?
Pilot: Roger, thank you.

{ts:284}
ATC: Contact approach 132.4.
Pilot: 132.4, American 106 heavy.

{ts:294}
Pilot: Descending out of 8,600.
ATC: Thank you, heading 280.

{ts:305}
ATC: Speed is your discretion, descend and maintain 5,000.
Pilot: Speed our discretion, down to 5,000.

{ts:321}
ATC: You’re all set up for the approach?
Pilot: Yes, sir, set right.

{ts:335}
ATC: Descent, maintain 4,000.
Pilot: 4,000, American 106 heavy.

{ts:343}
ATC: Descent, maintain 3,000.
Pilot: Maintaining 3,000.

{ts:351}
ATC: Turn another 10°.
Pilot: Right, 10.

{ts:360}
ATC: Traffic 12:00, 5 miles southwestbound, 2,000 for parallel JetBlue Airbus 220.

{ts:377}
ATC: About 4 from Matter, turn left 250, descend and maintain 2,000, till established on the localizer, cleared ILS 22 right.
Pilot: Left 250, maintain 2,000, cleared ILS 22 right.

{ts:390}
ATC: Speed’s your discretion, contact tower 123.9.
Pilot: Speed’s on us, 123.9.

{ts:403}
Pilot: Tower, emergency aircraft coming in on the two right.

{ts:410}
ATC (Tower): American 106 heavy, emergency aircraft, number one, heavy Airbus departure, caution wake turbulence, emergency vehicles standing by.
Pilot: Understand about the emergency vehicles, appreciate, American 106, going to gate four.

{ts:432}
Pilot: American 106 is exiting at Kilo.

{ts:456}
ATC (Ground): For the overweight landing, do you require any assistance from the emergency vehicles?
Pilot: Negative, American 106 heavy, right turn on Kilo, cross 31 left.

{ts:468}
ATC: Roger. And we did, I know you’re a medical also, so we called on that as well.

{ts:476}
Pilot: Disregard, follow that triple seven left Alpha.
ATC: Follow 7 left Alpha, American 106 heavy. Thank you.

While American Airlines has not publicly released further details, the swift response of the crew, ATC, and emergency services ensured the passenger received urgent care immediately upon arrival.

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The post American Airlines New York to London Flight with 777 Makes Emergency Landing appeared first on Aviation A2Z.