On Tuesday, an unlicensed passenger successfully landed a small plane in Florida after the pilot suffered a medical emergency.
According to WPBF-TV, the plane was able to land safely with the help of air traffic controllers at Palm Beach International Airport.
“I’ve got a serious situation here,” the Cessna Caravan passenger was reportedly heard telling air traffic control. “My pilot has gone incoherent. I have no idea how to fly the airplane.”
A dispatcher responded, “Roger. What’s your position?”
“I have no idea,” the passenger reportedly 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. We’re trying to locate you.”
Eventually, the plane was located around 25 miles north of Palm Beach in Boca Raton. Traffic controllers then led the man down to the ground in what the station described as a safe and steady landing.
“You just witnessed a couple of passengers land that plane,” a controller reportedly said.
“Did you say the passengers landed the plane?” another person asked.
“That’s correct,” the controlled replied.
“Oh, my gosh. Great job,” said the other person
According to one aviation expert, the dispatcher’s modest compliments for the virgin pilot were an enormous understatement.
Aviation expert John Nance said, “This is the first time I’ve ever heard of one of these [Cessna Caravans] being landed by somebody with no aeronautical experience.”
According to Cessna, the 38-foot-long jet has a 52-foot wingspan and can achieve 215 miles per hour. It seats up to 14 people.
“The person on the airplane who had no aeronautical experience listened very carefully and obviously followed instructions with great calm,” Nance reportedly said. “That’s what made the difference.”
The brave passenger’s name and the pilot’s condition have not been made public.
While the investigation was ongoing, the Federal Aviation Administration said he had a medical emergency.
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