NEW DELHI: “We’re really, you know, stuck and there’s no fuel.” Air India ’s senior commander Rustom Palia told New York JFK Airport’s air traffic control ATC ) with a steely voice on final approach to land there on September 11. Palia and Captain Sushant Singh, second-in-command, were flying a Boeing 777 as AI 101 Delhi-JFK nonstop when the aircraft — with 370 passengers — on final approach suffered a string of multiple instrument failures.The instrument landing system (ILS) failed at the last minute due to which Captains Palia and Singh had to abort touching down at JFK and then they spent close to one half an hour in air trying to figure out — in coordination with JFK ATC — an airport in NYC or a nearby city with good visibility.Running low on fuel, they quickly needed a decent chance of sighting a runway early enough to make a visual approach due to the failed ILS. The transcript of conversation between the cockpit of AI 101 and JFK ATC shows how the two captains showed nerves of steel and how a JFK controller ensured the plane lands safely in severe adversity. AI 101 was behind an Embraer in landing sequence for JFK when the “master caution sound” went off in the cockpit. The plane then did a go-around and was expecting to return to land at JFK in second attempt. Then the system failure started extending to other instruments as well.“The localiser was lost… there were a lot of issues involved so we kinda stopped that out… (not sure) if we can even continue with this approach,” Captain Palia and Singh calmly told ATC without any panic in their voice. JFK controllers gave them a longer approach to help them sort the issues.Then AI pilots asked for visibility at nearby Stewart airport in hope of a better visibility there. “We have some onboard instruments problem and because of that we are not able to conduct the ILS for (JFK) and now we are sitting for alternate for what we can do…” AI pilots said.“No, autoland is not available because… we got two radio altimeters failures… we’ve got TCAS (traffic collision avoidance system) failure, we’ve got multiple instrument failure,” Palia told the ATC, without any panic in his voice. The pilots asked for a place where they could do a “non precision approach”.“Gotcha… okay I’m gonna do some research. I’ll get back to you in a second. Just hang on a second,” JFK ATC said. The JFK controllers and AI discussed other options like Newark (EWR), Boston Logan, Washington Dulles, Pittsburg and Albany near NYC. “We were just checking Boston as well because were getting a little low on fuel as well so we need to decide quick. We are burning quite a lot at this time,” Captain Palia told the ATC.“AI 101 when you have time give me the fuel remaining in minutes… yea in minutes,” the ATC said. Suddenly Newark EWR had improved visibility. The pilots and ATC then zeroed in on EWR as the best option and the plane headed there.“Once I (get) visual, I can continue my approach (into EWR)… This (plane’s) ILS is unpredictable..” Palia said. The ATC then asked what all systems were not functional on the ILS.“Other than both ILSs, both radio altimeters, what other things have failed on the plane,” the controller asked Palia. On getting the reply, the controller said: “When you get chance, give me the (number of) people on board and fuel onboard please”.The aircraft then had 7,200 kg of fuel left in its belly after the nearly 14-hour flight. “AI 101 is there anything else you need from me,” the controller said. When thanked for the amazing cooperation, the controller told Palia: “I wish there was more I could do for you.”The EWR final approach tower told the pilots they were getting low on the approach. Taking required steps, the AI pilots skillfully managed to land the plane safely at EWR 90 seconds after the low altitude alert from EWR and 38 minutes after doing the go around from JFK. Apart from the Captains Palia and Singh, the cockpit also had two more pilots D S Bhatti and Vikas. Being a long nonstop, two sets of crew were on the flight.“Flight safety is investigating the matter and AI pilots (are) appreciated who successfully handled the technical issue and safely diverted the flight to EWR in passengers interest. For Air India Passenger safety is utmost,” an AI spokesman had told TOI earlier.