Passengers praise pilot as ‘class act,’ say crew kept them calm in NY’s JFK Airport landing

Praise for airline crew following NY hard landing

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. — The pilot and his crew who brought 60 passengers to safety in an emergency landing at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport, while sparks flew and one plane wing dragged along the tarmac, are being praised for their professionalism.

Passenger Jamie Pfeiffer of Bridgewater, Conn., described pilot Jack Conroyd as a “class act.” She said he and the crew “helped to lower the panic level” during Saturday’s landing and did their jobs so well. Passenger David Freda of New Milford, Conn., said the pilot was great.

Delta Connection Flight 4951, operated by Atlantic Southeast Airlines, made the emergency landing at Kennedy at night after the flight crew declared an emergency with the jet’s landing gear.

Conroyd declined an interview while an investigation is ongoing.