What action, if any, is appropriate if the pilot deviates from an ATC instruction during an emergency and is given priority?

• A. File a detailed report within 48 hours to the appropriate ATC facility, if requested
• B. Ignore it
• C. Wait until the flight lands to report
• D. No reporting is required

Answer: (A)

When you’re dealing with an emergency, ATC can grant you priority to handle the situation, and you may need to deviate from their instructions to stay safe. After that priority is established, it’s important to document what happened. If ATC asks for a report, you should file a detailed report within 48 hours to the appropriate ATC facility. This ensures that there is a clear record of the deviation and the actions taken, which helps safety analysis and future improvements.

Ignoring the request, delaying the report until after landing, or assuming no report is needed would miss this important accountability step and could hinder safety efforts.