Narrative:

All over the new york area the fireworks displays were dramatic. We made the cri VOR approach to runway 13R at jfk at about XA40 local time on jul/tue/95. I noticed that there were fireworks between us and the runway, but assumed that the safety issues had been worked out with the tower. The display was obviously preplanned and professionally executed. About 1 mi out at an altitude of about 300 ft, there were very large STAR bursts on both sides of the aircraft at altitudes exceeding ours. Needless to say, the passenger thought it was wonderful, but it was pure luck that we were not hit by some of the resulting shrapnel. If some of the fireworks material had been ingested by an engine, it could have resulted in an engine failure. The worst case scenarios could have been tragic. When I discussed it with the tower, they took it very lightly. Comments: there should be coordination between the FAA and park auths when such displays are planned. There should be NOTAMS and remarks from the tower. The affected runway should be closed (the wind was light and variable at the time). Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated he had no advance warning from ATC regarding the fireworks and when he first saw them they were very low, ground displays. He was quite amazed when they started exploding around and above him.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FIREWORKS DISPLAYS NEAR FINAL APCH COURSE CAUSES HAZARDOUS SIT TO ARRIVING FLT.

Narrative: ALL OVER THE NEW YORK AREA THE FIREWORKS DISPLAYS WERE DRAMATIC. WE MADE THE CRI VOR APCH TO RWY 13R AT JFK AT ABOUT XA40 LCL TIME ON JUL/TUE/95. I NOTICED THAT THERE WERE FIREWORKS BTWN US AND THE RWY, BUT ASSUMED THAT THE SAFETY ISSUES HAD BEEN WORKED OUT WITH THE TWR. THE DISPLAY WAS OBVIOUSLY PREPLANNED AND PROFESSIONALLY EXECUTED. ABOUT 1 MI OUT AT AN ALT OF ABOUT 300 FT, THERE WERE VERY LARGE STAR BURSTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ACFT AT ALTS EXCEEDING OURS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE PAX THOUGHT IT WAS WONDERFUL, BUT IT WAS PURE LUCK THAT WE WERE NOT HIT BY SOME OF THE RESULTING SHRAPNEL. IF SOME OF THE FIREWORKS MATERIAL HAD BEEN INGESTED BY AN ENG, IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ENG FAILURE. THE WORST CASE SCENARIOS COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC. WHEN I DISCUSSED IT WITH THE TWR, THEY TOOK IT VERY LIGHTLY. COMMENTS: THERE SHOULD BE COORD BTWN THE FAA AND PARK AUTHS WHEN SUCH DISPLAYS ARE PLANNED. THERE SHOULD BE NOTAMS AND REMARKS FROM THE TWR. THE AFFECTED RWY SHOULD BE CLOSED (THE WIND WAS LIGHT AND VARIABLE AT THE TIME). CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED HE HAD NO ADVANCE WARNING FROM ATC REGARDING THE FIREWORKS AND WHEN HE FIRST SAW THEM THEY WERE VERY LOW, GND DISPLAYS. HE WAS QUITE AMAZED WHEN THEY STARTED EXPLODING AROUND AND ABOVE HIM.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.