Passenger With 'No Flying Experience' Lands Plane Safely After Pilot Falls Ill

A passenger with 'no flying experience' has been hailed a hero after they successfully landed a small plane in Florida, US, after the pilot suffered a medical emergency.

The incident took place at Palm Beach International Airport last week, and only became apparent when air traffic control tried to contact the pilot.

WPBF

The Cessna Caravan plane was around 112 kilometres north of the airport when the passenger called controllers to tell them the pilot "has gone incoherent".

¡°I¡¯ve got a serious situation here,¡± the passenger can be heard telling Air Traffic Control. ¡°My pilot has gone incoherent. I have no idea how to fly the airplane.¡±

¡°Roger. What¡¯s your position?¡± Air Traffic Control responded.

¡°I have no idea,¡± the passenger said. ¡°I can see the coast of Florida in front of me. And I have no idea.¡±

¡°Maintain wings level and just try to follow the coast, either north or southbound,¡± Air Traffic Control told him. ¡°We¡¯re trying to locate you.¡±

After four minutes, the panicking passenger tries to figure out what to do. ¡°Have you guys located me yet?¡± he asked. ¡°I can¡¯t even get my nav screen to turn on. It has all the information on it. You guys have any ideas on that?¡±

Eventually, the air traffic controller instructed the man on how to descend, and it was located around 40 kilometres north of Palm Beach, Boca Raton.

Following the successful landing, a controller is reported to have said: "You just witnessed a couple passengers land that plane."

WPBF

¡°Oh, my gosh. Great job,¡± said the other person.

Aviation expert John Nance told WPBF-TV that the dispatcher's praise was actually a huge understatement.

¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve ever heard of one of these [Cessna Caravans] being landed by somebody that has no aeronautical experience. The person on the airplane who had no aeronautical experience listened very carefully and obviously followed instructions with great calm," Nance said. "That¡¯s what made the difference."

The name of the passenger has not been released nor has the name or condition of the pilot. The Federal Aviation Administration said it believes he suffered a medical emergency. The FAA is investigating the matter.

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