NY Jets Plane Gets Green Light To Buzz Empire State Building

On Sunday night, the New York Jets charter flight was given permission by Newark Airport to divert the plane's scheduled route home and get a bird's eye view of the Empire State Building, which was lit up in the team's colors.

According to the New York Post, the Jets plane altered its route to get closer to the city's tallest building which was illuminated in Jets green and white lights.

The Jets were returning to New Jersey after defeating the New England Patriots,  when the captain asked the tower, "If it's [the Empire State Building] green and white, these guys actually want to get as close as we could to see it."   The air traffic controllers in the tower--about 10 miles south of the New Meadowlands Stadium--must have been shy of depressed Giants fans and granted the Jets team it's wish with this exchange.

NEWARK TOWER:  Tower advises it is lit up.  You're flying one-niner zero visual approach.

JETS:  You guys are awesome.  And I will tell you later who said that.  190 headed to see the building.

TOWER:  Go Jets!

JETS:  Go Jets!

The desire to get close and personal with the green and white landmark came from none other than the controversial Jets head coach Rex Ryan, according to sources.

The route change down the Hudson River required special permission to fly into LaGuardia Airport's airspace.  FAA's spokesperson, Jim Peters, said, "No other flights were affected."

This kind of special fly-by request is not uncommon.  "Its kind of cool," said a spokeperson for the Air Traffic Controllers Association in Newark.  "It wasn't a typical flight path, but it does happen," he said.

TOWER:  Continental 915 taking you down the west side of the building down the Hudson .

JETS:  It's beautiful.

TOWER:  Continental 915, Empire State Building should be at 11 o'clock.

JETS:  Yeah, we got 200 people looking at it.  Looks pretty  nice too.

JETS:  Really appreciate it guys.

TOWER:  Glad to do it.

Jets GM,  Mike Tannenbaum said, "For the Empire State Building to be lit green and white was already special.  Then for everyone involved to allow us to have a view on our way back was a great ending to our trip and something the team will always remember," he said.

 At approach, the tower announced "Clear to land for the champion New York Jets," moments before Continental charter flight 915 touched down in Newark at 10:53 p.m.