Dec 18th 2025 : A VivaAerobus flight arriving from Mexico City was forced to perform a go-around at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport after aligning with the wrong runway during its final approach.
Flight VB100, operated by an Airbus A321-200neo registered XA-VXR, departed Mexico City bound for New York JFK on December 18, 2025. As the aircraft conducted the RNAV Z approach, commonly known as the Canarsie Approach, to runway 13L, it was cleared to land by air traffic control.
During the final stages of the approach, however, the aircraft began turning toward adjacent runway 13R, where a Turkish Airlines (THY) Boeing 787-9, registered TC-LLD, was lined up and awaiting takeoff clearance for a flight to Istanbul. As the VivaAerobus aircraft descended through approximately 700 feet above ground level, its crew recognized the misalignment and initiated a go-around.
The A321 crew turned left off the runway centerline, climbed to 3,000 feet, and repositioned for another approach. The aircraft subsequently conducted a second Canarsie Approach and landed safely on runway 13L about 17 minutes after the go-around, without further incident. After landing, air traffic control instructed the VivaAerobus crew to contact ATC by phone.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Airlines Boeing 787 had just received takeoff clearance on runway 13R when tower controllers canceled the clearance due to the approaching A321. The 787 remained on the runway and was issued a new takeoff clearance approximately 90 seconds later, departing without incident.
Following the event, the VivaAerobus aircraft later departed on its return flight with a delay of around 105 minutes.
No injuries were reported, and both airlines continued operations normally. The incident highlights the challenges associated with closely spaced parallel runways and complex approach procedures at major airports such as JFK.
