When AHY101 checked in with approach runway 31R was closed so they were assigned 31L. 31R opened soon after but AHY101 was never told to change to it so it ended with some confusion when they were cleared for ILS 31R.
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AHY101/history/20181020/0100Z/UBBB/KJFK
This was a great recording and very interesting. I transcribed it if you'd like to read it.
I think both the pilot and the ATC were more concerned with what they were going to say that they didn't listen closely to the other. There were opportunities for both parties to ask for clarification.
When I looked at the radar tracking of this flight, the pilot was zig-zagging on his approach instead of completing his turn to heading 040.
AHY101: Good morning, AZUL with information Oscar
JFK APP: AZUL101 Heavy, Kennedy approach, expect ILS runway 31L approach. ILS 31L
AHY101: Affirm ILS 31L Azerbaijan 101, AZUL101.
DAL2068: Hey approach, Delta 2068
JFK APP: Delta 2068, expect ILS 31L
DAL2068: I know, 31L. Just let uh, let tower know that Romeo is showing 31R closed.
JFK APP: (Laughing) Okay, I’ll let them know. Thank you.
DAL2068: I think that’s what’s confusing guys.
JFK APP: Yeah, I can imagine that.
JFK APP: AZUL 101 Heavy turn left heading 340.
AHY101: Left heading 340, speed is… 200 AZUL101.
JFK APP: AZUL101 Heavy …, maintain 3000, …to localizer, clear to ILS runway 31R approach
AHY101: … to localizer, maintain 3000, clear to ILS runway 31L. AZUL101. Maintaining speed?
JFK APP: AZUL101, 31R.
AHY101: Thank you.
JFK APP: Okay. Negative Sir. I want make sure you understand you’re landing 31R.
AHY101: Confirm 31R.
JFK APP: Confirmed.
AHY101: I heard you.
JFK APP: ???6 Heavy, right turn heading 180, expect ILS 31R. It is open. Information is SIERRA.
???6:, heading 180 and 31R. Roger.
JFK APP: AZUL101 Heavy, turn right! Right turn heading 040.
AHY101: Right heading 040, AZUL101. And for runway 31R.
JFK APP: No. No, you’re established on 31L so turn right heading 040. I’m going to spin you.
AHY101: Now we’re turning to the right for 31R, AZUL101.
JFK APP: Turn heading 040.
AHY101: Heading… Now localizer established for runway 31R.
JFK APP: Turn right heading 040.
AHY101: Confirm of ILS 31R, AZUL101.
JFK APP: Okay. Delta1303, turn left heading 330 heading please join 31R.
DAL1303: 330 heading join 31R, Delta1303.
JFK APP: Delta391, descend and maintain 3,000.
JFK APP: Delta391, maintain 3.
DAL391: Maintain 3,000, Delta391
JFK APP: ???6 Heavy, descend and maintain 13,000
???6: 13,000, ???6 Heavy.
JFK APP: AZUL101 Heavy, I will tell you again, turn right heading 040, over.
AHY101: Right heading 040, AZUL101.
JFK APP: AZUL101 Heavy, expect ILS 31R, over.
AHY101: Right 040 AZUL101
JFK APP: Expect 31R, over.
AHY101: 31R, over, AZUL101.
JFK APP: Endeavor5020, turn right heading 200.
EDV5020: 200, Endeavor5020.
JFK APP: AZUL101 turn right heading 040.
AHY101: Now we’re turning, I think. 040 to the right, AZUL101.
JFK APP: Yes, I’ve turned you four times and you’re not turning. Right turning 090 now. 090.
AHY101: Right 090 AZUL101.
JFK APP: Delta1303, 6 miles from …, clear to ILS 31R approach.
DAL1303: With the ILS 31R approach, Delta 1303
DAL312: Kennedy, Delta312 9,000 Sierra, request
if available
JFK APP: Delta312 heading 040, plan on ILS 31R
DAL312: 31R, 040. Delta312.
AHY101: AZUL101 we were cleared before for 31L ILS.
JFK APP: No. I cleared you for the right side. Apparently there was a runway change, but I still gave you the right, you said, ‘Confirmed,’ and you still continued for the approach. So right heading 090, plan ILS 31R.
AHY101: … uhh I think … confirm the right headings.
JFK APP: Just fly heading 090, please AZUL. Fly heading eastbound, 090.
AHY101: Heading 090 for runway 31R, AZUL101.
JFK APP: Delta1303 contact Kennedy tower.
DAL1303: Over to tower. Delta 1303. Good luck!
JFK APP: Yeah. I need it. Thank you.
JFK APP: AZUL102[SIC] Heavy, turn right heading 200, descend and maintain 2,000.
AHY101: Right heading 200, descend to 2,000, AZUL101.
JFK APP: AZUL101 Heavy, turn right heading 260.
AHY101: Right heading 260, AZUL101, maintain 2,000.
JFK APP: Thank you.
JFK APP: AZUL101 Heavy, turn right heading 280, … to left, maintain 2,000, … the localizer, clear at ILS runway 31R approach.
AZUL101: Right heading 280 for 31R, clear ILS, join localizer, Azerbaijan AZUL101.
JFK APP: Okay.
JFK APP: AZUL101 Heavy, contact Kennedy tower.
AZUL101: 119.1 AZUL101. Thank you.