Air traffic control talks passenger through landing plane as pilot was 'incoherent'

[Sandy VDH]

Air traffic control talks passenger through landing plane as pilot was 'incoherent'

A passenger with no flying experience had to unexpectedly land a small aircraft in Florida after the pilot became "incoherent" during the flight.

www.usatoday.com

Not a flight I would want to be a passenger on, but the guy sounded pretty calm on the ATC recordings.

WOW.

 

[Talent312]

Everyone is marveling over the landing, but
I never did hear how the pilot was doing.
Did he recover?
.

 

[AnnaS]

Everyone is marveling over the landing, but
I never did hear how the pilot was doing.
Did he recover?
.

You are right.

The passenger was finally interviewed - but we have no clue what happened to the pilot.

 

[plpgma]

Out of pure speculation, it sounds like the pilot suffered a small stroke (TIA) or possibly even a major stroke. Regardless, the Cessna 208 is a fairly technically-challenged aircraft for a rookie to fly, much less someone who might have no knowledge or experience of flying -- so extreme kudos go to this guy who maintained his composure and walked away from a successfull landing!

 

[MULTIZ321]

Air traffic controller PRINTED picture of cockpit controls to help passenger with no flight experience land plane in Florida after pilot passed out

Passenger with NO experience lands plane on Florida runway

An air traffic controller at Palm Beach International Airport in Florida printed out a layout of a cockpit to help a passenger successfully landed the plane despite having no flight experience.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Richard

 

[Passepartout]

The stricken pilot had a torn aorta, and was taken to a hospital where it was repaired. He has recovered sufficient to go home to recuperate. Good chance he's flown his last as Pilot In Command.

The experienced flight instructor who- along with an ATC directed the inexperienced guy to the safe landing said he was the best student he'd ever had. I suspect he was motivated.

Kudos to all!

Jim

 

[Cornell]

I see that the air traffic controller is an alumni of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical U where my own daughter will be transferring to next year.

He has a degree in Aeronautical Science.

Embry-Riddle Alumni Helped Passenger Land Plane After Pilot Lost Consciousness

news.erau.edu

 

[rickandcindy23]

Our son's friend is an air traffic controller for Denver and is a pilot, his dad was a commercial pilot and died recently. With the shortage of pilots, maybe he should consider going back to commercial flight school (or whatever it's called) and switch from air traffic control.

 

[MULTIZ321]

Why Cessna Pllot Kenneth Allen Lost consciousness on Florida Flight

Why Cessna Pilot Kenneth Allen Lost Consciousness on Florida Flight

Kenneth Allen is the pilot who lost consciousness while flying a nine-seat Cessna with two passengers on board.

www.insideedition.com

Richard

 

[x3 skier]

If the guy had zero experience, I’m mayor of New York.

I believe he didn’t have any formal flight instruction but I’d bet $10 to a donut he’s at least handled the controls on the many flights in that plane before. Knowing how to pull out of a dive and stabilizing the plane before he talked to ATC is not something instinctive as rapid and excessive motions would be the “normal” reaction of someone with truly zero experience and would result in a very bad outcome.

No question he did an excellent job but IMNSHO, the “journalists” exaggerated his lack of formal training to hype the story. The guy never said he had totally zero experience but given the situation, he did a superb job.
,
Cheers

 

[Sandy VDH]

I listed to the cockpit conversation ATC control released, and he said he had no flight experience. Now maybe he had gaming flight simulator experience, but he did say to ATC "NO experience".