Two Viva Airlines pilots operating flight VB100 from Mexico City to New York’s JFK Airport on December 18, 2025, approached one of the world’s busiest airports seemingly unprepared, failing to understand basic approach instructions and nearly landing on an occupied runway in a series of errors captured on air traffic control recordings.
The Mexican low-cost carrier’s Airbus A321neo crew appeared confused when controllers instructed them to fly direct to ASALT—the initial fix for the RNAV Z approach to runway 13L—with pilots repeatedly asking for clarification and only partially reading back instructions despite ASALT being clearly marked on standard approach charts.
After finally navigating to the correct approach point, the pilots then lined up with the wrong runway (13R instead of 13L). They began their descent, forcing controllers to urgently redirect them as another aircraft was already using that runway.
Aviation experts analyzing the viral ATC audio expressed shock that professional airline pilots would attempt such a complex approach at JFK without proper preparation or briefing, noting the crew seemed unfamiliar with both the airport layout and standard navigation terminology.
JFK controllers remained remarkably calm throughout the incident despite the multiple errors, patiently redirecting the confused pilots and preventing what could have been a catastrophic runway incursion.
The incident raised serious questions about pilot training standards at budget carriers and whether crews operating international flights to major hubs receive adequate preparation for complex airport operations.
Sources: One Mile at a Time, Quinn Anderson
