A passenger is being credited with carrying out “mission impossible” after landing a private plane in Florida when the pilot suffered a medical emergency.
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The unbelievable achievement by a man with no aviation experience took place at Palm Beach International Airport on Tuesday, WPBF-TV reports.
“I’ve got a serious situation here,” the passenger told Air Traffic Control from about 70 miles north of his final destination. “My pilot has gone incoherent. I have no idea how to fly the airplane.”
PASSENGER LANDS PLANE: The lone passenger aboard a small plane was guided by an air traffic controller on how to safely land the aircraft after the pilot suffered from a medical emergency. @VictorOquendo reports. https://t.co/wIixdvC4aq pic.twitter.com/hzjj9G3rPs
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) May 11, 2022
“Roger,” ATC responded. “What’s your position?”
The passenger said he had no idea but could see the coast of Florida.
“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.”
This is brand new video (courtesy of Jeff Chandler) of a passenger landing a plane today at PBIA.
— Ari Hait (@wpbf_ari) May 11, 2022
His pilot had passed out, and the passenger with zero flight experience was forced to land the plane.
Team coverage of this amazing landing is on @WPBF25News at 11. pic.twitter.com/jFLIlTp6Zs
Controllers located him after several minutes in Boca Raton. They helped coach him through a safe landing.
“You just witnessed a couple passengers land that plane,” a controller said over the radio.
“Did you say the passengers landed the airplane?” one person asked.
Captain Robert Morgan, the air traffic controller who helped a passenger take control of a plane after the pilot became incapacitated, describes the moment the aircraft landed safely-
— Brianna Keilar (@brikeilarcnn) May 11, 2022
“He said, all right, do you want me to taxi off the runway? I felt like I was going to cry.” pic.twitter.com/hRcQ3bDfKM
“That’s correct,” the controller said.
“Oh my gosh. Great job,” he said.
“No flight experience,” the controller added.
“I have no idea how to fly the airplane.” Pilot of small plane passes out while flying off the coast of Florida. Passenger, who had never piloted a plane before, successfully lands it after air traffic controller Robert Morgan talks him through the procedure. pic.twitter.com/vDxWSgsPvz
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) May 11, 2022
Jet Blue pilot Justin Dalmolin, who landed right after the miracle landing, told the outlet the passenger’s ability was “absolutely incredible.”
“The incredible part is not just flying the aircraft but obviously the most difficult thing which is configuring the aircraft for approach and landing,” Dalmolin said. “And then landing it, and that to me, for a zero-time pilot.”
The name of the passenger and the pilot have not been released as the FAA investigates the situation.