A passenger aboard a private plane managed to land the plane at a Florida airport despite having no flying expertise after the pilot fell unconscious on board.
The extraordinary situation occurred on Tuesday when the passenger was overheard informing air traffic control that he had “no idea” how to operate the plane.
“I’ve got a serious situation here,” the unidentified passenger said in the LiveATC.net audio, according to reports. “My pilot has gone incoherent, and I have no idea how to fly the airplane.”
“Roger. What’s your position?” air traffic control replied.
“Try to hold the wings level and see if you can start descending for me. Then, push forward on the controls and descend at a very slow rate,” control added. “Try to follow the coast, either north or southbound. We’re trying to locate you.”
The plane carrying two passengers was flying at 9,100 feet near southern Florida when air traffic authorities in Fort Pierce directed it to follow the coastline and land at Palm Beach International Airport.
The private plane was discovered on radar four minutes after the passenger informed air traffic control.
The passenger-turned-pilot asked the controllers how to switch on the plane’s navigation screen while they were locating the plane, which was a Cessna Caravan, according to sources.
“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?”
The inexperienced pilot eventually flew the plane into Palm Beach International Airport and landed it safely.
The plane landed, and emergency services arrived to assist the pilot, according to a video released. The identities of people on board were not revealed.
“This is the first time I’ve ever heard of one of these being landed by somebody with no aeronautical experience,” aviation expert John Nance said on Tuesday.
