Comments on: JFK Airport Runway Closed Due to Turtles

By: Delta Jet Grounded by Mouse at JFK | NYCAviation.com | Planespotting and Aviation Photography, Breaking Airline News, Aviation Discussion

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:54:24 +0000

[...] New York-area aviation interests this year, with geese taking down US Airways 1549 in January and turtles occupying a JFK runway in July. • 3-Days Only! Local Flights at Great Low Rates: Fly Domestic from $39 One-Way [...]

By: Twitted by tha_rami

Twitted by tha_rami — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:59:49 +0000

[...] This post was Twitted by tha_rami [...]

By: matt molnar

matt molnar — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:31:21 +0000

Thank you for the information. I should have qualified the “mating season” blurb as a statement from a Port Authority spokesman, whose turtle-mating-habits knowledge might be questionable.

By: R Burke

R Burke — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:05:20 +0000

several errors and misleading components. i have studied diamondback terrapins in Jamaica Bay for the last 10 years.
1.”Perhaps washed out of their swampy airport-side homes by the rain” nope. normal behavior for this species at this type of year
2. “Port Authority wildlife staff have moved the turtles to a safe location” waste of time, as nesting turtles will come right back. this has to have been happening all along, and they just noticed it.
3. “It’s mating season. They were horny turtles” Wrong. they mate in the spring (May). they were on land to nest, that's just about the only time they come on land.

By: matt molnar

matt molnar — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:31:21 +0000

Thank you for the information. I should have qualified the “mating season” blurb as a statement from a Port Authority spokesman, whose turtle-mating-habits knowledge might be questionable.

By: R Burke

R Burke — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:05:20 +0000

By: Bugsmasher Bob

Bugsmasher Bob — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:35:18 +0000

That's odd. About two years ago, while taxiing out at JFK, I heard the following exchange between tower and a couple of airliners:

Tower: Luftansa 123, position and hold runway 4L.
Lufttansa 123: Ahhh... there is a turtle on the runway.
Tower: (abruptly) What do you want me to do about it?
Luftansa 123: Ahhh... roger, position and hold runway 4L, Luftansa 123.
Tower: Luftansa 123, cleared for takeoff runway 4L.
Luftansa 123: Cleared for takeoff runway 4L, Luftansa 123.
Tower: Delta 123, position and hold runway 4L.
Delta 123: Position and hold runway 4L, Delta 123. The turtle didn't make it.

I can't speak for the other hundred or so airplanes that were jammed onto the ramp, but the Captain and I were laughing our asses off. Now they're closing runways for turtles?