At that point, First Officer Klotz radioed the controller, saying, "ah well I think we need priority we're passing ." The controller inquired as to how long the flight could hold as well as what their alternate airport was. Klotz replied at 20:46:03 that they could hold for five more minutes. The controller once again inquired as to their alternate airport and Klotz replied at 20:46:24, "It was Boston but we can't do it now we, we, don't, we run out of fuel now." A handoff controller listening in on the conversation called the New York Terminal Radar Approach Control (NY TRACON) at 20:46:24 and advised the TRACON controller that Avianca Flight 52 could only hold for five more minutes. The handoff controller asked whether NY TRACON could take the flight or whether to send Avianca to its alternate airport. The NY TRACON controller replied, "Slow him to one eight zero knots and I'll take him." The handoff controller later testified that he had not heard Flight 52 say that they could no longer reach their alternate airport. At 20:46:47, the NY ARTCC radar controller cleared the flight to proceed to JFK at and to slow to . Flight 52 departed the CAMRN holding pattern at 20:47.