Delta Flight 4951 makes JFK emergency landing

A Delta Connection, Canadian made Bombardier CRJ 900, operating as Flight 4951 from Atlanta (ATL), Georgia to White Plains (HPN), NY, carrying 60 passengers and a crew of 3, and operated by Atlantic Southeast Airlines (EV), was diverted to JFK International Airport where it made an emergency landing at about 8:00 p.m. local time on Saturday, September 25, due to a stuck right landing gear.

The pilot, Jack Conroyd, age 55, of Lake Mary, Florida, a former U.S. Navy pilot, is being compared to U.S. Airways Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who ditched Flight 1549 in the Hudson River on January 15, 2009. Passengers shook his hand after the aircraft safely landed Saturday night on its left wheel and right wing tip. Sparks from the wing contacting the runway trailed the crippled aircraft until it had come to rest. Copilot Larkin Newby, age 33, of Shermansdale, PA and Conroyd were not available for media comments.

Sullenberger later commented to the press "I commend the crew for ensuring a successful outcome for everyone on board."

Conroyd was overheard thanking passengers for staying calm. "Thank you all very much for your help. God bless you all," he said to passengers on the tarmac.

The incident might have been prevented. Last July, the FAA had issued an airworthiness directive, alerting all airlines to a potential landing gear problem with the CRJ 900. The NTSB and the FAA are both investigating last Saturday's incident.

Conroyd had given a "brace for impact" warning before guiding the disabled plane to a delicate landing. A flight attendant repeatedly announced "heads down, heads down". Some passengers screamed, while others prayed quietly, as the aircraft used two of its three landing gear, aided by a dragging right wing as it rolled to a stop. Passengers left the aircraft through the front exit and were taken by bus to Terminal 3 to collect their luggage. They were later transported to White Plains by ground transportation.

The Bombardier CRJ 900 is a stretched 76 to 90 seat version of the smaller CRJ 700, and is in wide use on commuter routes in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. As of August 2009, 209 planes were in airline service around the world.

Atlantic Southeast Airlines also employs celebrity pilot Jake Pavelka, who had the lead last season on a television reality dating show, The Bachelor, and also appeared on Dancing With the Stars.  

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