Cathay Pacific Boeing 747 Freighter Dramatically Makes Emergency Landing at JFK: How You Need To Know

A Cathay Pacific Boeing 747-400 freighter was forced to make an emergency landing at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on March 16, 2025, after experiencing a significant safety issue during its routine cargo flight.

The aircraft, operating under flight number CX3195, was en route from JFK to Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) when the cabin pressure dropped suddenly, triggering an emergency response.

The 16-year-old Boeing 747-400 freighter, registered as B-LID, is part of Cathay Pacific Cargo’s extensive fleet, which includes 20 dedicated Boeing 747 freighters.

The incident occurred while the aircraft was cruising at approximately 30,000 feet, or Flight Level 300.

Upon noticing the drop in cabin pressure, the highly experienced flight crew swiftly followed standard emergency procedures, donning oxygen masks and initiating a rapid emergency descent to 10,000 feet to ensure the safety of the aircraft and its crew members.

Once the emergency descent was complete, the flight crew determined that returning to the departure airport, JFK, was the most prudent course of action.

The Boeing 747 successfully landed on Runway 22L at JFK Airport, about 100 minutes after its initial departure.

Emergency services were immediately requested to assess potential structural damage to the aircraft after landing.

Following the emergency landing, the freighter was grounded at JFK for an extensive period of 18 hours.

During this time, maintenance technicians conducted a thorough inspection of the aircraft to ensure it was safe to continue operations.

The freighter was cleared after the required safety checks, allowing it to resume its flight operations.

Earlier Landing Challenges with Cathay Pacific Boeing 747-8F Freighter

In a separate incident, a Cathay Pacific Boeing 747-8F freighter encountered landing challenges while approaching Guadalajara Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport on March 7, 2025.

The aircraft, registration B-LJG, had completed flight CX97 from Mexico City Felipe Ángeles International Airport when it made a notably intense landing on runway 29R.

The 13-year-old Boeing 747-8F, which has been part of Cathay Pacific Cargo’s fleet since its delivery in February 2012, is powered by four General Electric GEnx-2B67 engines.

This landing incident highlighted the complexities of cargo operations, as the aircraft was likely approaching the runway 5 to 15 knots faster than recommended.

These variables, such as airspeed and weather conditions, contributed to the hard landing, a phenomenon often influenced by several factors, including wind conditions and atmospheric changes.

Modern airports and aircraft technologies, such as real-time weather systems and advanced runway data, provide pilots with crucial information to manage these complex landing conditions and reduce the risk of hard touchdowns.


Image: Cathay Pacific

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