Part 4/8:
The situation became dire as the crew prepared for landing, only to realize that the cloud base over JFK was a mere 200 feet,** significantly limiting their options. With numerous systems compromised, the pilots faced a critical decision: attempt an unfamiliar approach to JFK with malfunctioning equipment or divert to an alternate airport.
As they tried a non-precision LNAV/VNAV approach, they encountered further complications, including incorrect warnings about landing gear that added to their stress. With fuel running low and time slipping away, they concluded that they could not safely land at any of the nearby airports.