With no flying experience whatsoever, a passenger successfully landed the plane in Florida, USA (see video below). The case happened on Tuesday afternoon (October 5th) after the pilot suffered a medical emergency.
According to WPBFTV, the incredible feat of aviation was accomplished at Palm Beach International Airport. On board a Cessna Caravan, the passenger managed to contact air traffic control in Fort Pierce.
“I have a serious situation here. My pilot became incoherent. I have no idea how to fly the plane,” he told air traffic controllers, who asked what position he was in.
“I don’t know,” said the passenger. “I can see the Florida coast in front of me. And I have no idea.”
Air traffic controllers then told the passenger to keep the plane’s wings straight and try to fly either north or south towards the coast while trying to locate the plane.
radio help
Four minutes elapsed while the passenger debated what to do when controllers finally spotted him on radar about 40 kilometers north of Palm Beach off the coast of Boca Raton.
From there, the air traffic control radio led the man to the ground, which according to the transmitter was considered a safe and stable landing.
“You just saw some passengers land on that plane,” an air traffic controller reportedly said over the radio as the horrifying saga came to a close.
“Did you say the passengers landed the plane?” another person was heard asking.
“That’s right,” the controller replied.
“Oh my god. Great job,” said the other person.
secret hero
Neither the name of the heroic passenger nor the condition of the ailing pilot were released.
The approximately 11.6 meter long aircraft reaches a speed of 340 km/h, offers space for up to 14 people and, according to Cessna, has a wingspan of 15 meters.
This is brand new video (courtesy of Jeff Chandler) of a passenger landing a plane at PBIA today.
Its pilot had passed out, and the passenger, with no flying experience, was forced to land the plane.
Team coverage of this amazing landing is ongoing @WPBF25News until 11 pic.twitter.com/jFLIlTp6Zs
— Ari Hait (@wpbf_ari) May 11, 2022