KATLPAX, this story says
"During the plane's approach to Newark, the pilot noticed the jet's nose wheel landing gear was not locking into place, American Airlines spokesman Todd Burke said."
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/sto...p-103182c.html
Perhaps it was 45 minutes before they landed at Kennedy???
BTW, it says that pax Micharski's brother was a pilot, so perhaps you could cut her some slack.