FORT MYERS, Fla. – A passenger landed a twin-engine plane in Florida after the pilot died in flight with a total of six people on board.
Federal Aviation Administration officials say the pilot died after takeoff from an airport in Naples on Sunday. It was on autopilot and climbing toward 10,000 feet when the pilot died.
The passenger who took over is licensed for single-engine planes but isn’t certified to fly the larger King Air craft.
An air traffic controller helped the passanger down by calling a friend in Connecticut who knows the King Air plane and relaying instructions. The plane landed safely at Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers.
The plane had been headed to Jackson, Miss. The names of the pilot and passengers have not been released.
Re: Passenger lands plane in Fla. after pilot dies
booooooooooooooooooo
i thought it was granny smith who landed some 777, turns out it was a lil ol plane and was landed by someone who can fly smaller planes but not a 6 seater? sheesh.
Re: Passenger lands plane in Fla. after pilot dies
Kudos to him!!
I always have this reocurring thought in my head whilst i’m travelling on a plane, that all of a sudden something will happen to the pilot, and everyone will look at me to take control…
Re: Passenger lands plane in Fla. after pilot dies
Yeah SS, twin engine planes are tiny..... must've been a private chartered plane...
No, i still have the sordid thought in my head, even though i know commercial flights have 2 pilots...i was an RAF pilot, so it's my forté.... it's not an occupation that comes in use for everyday issues (like my hubby who's a doctor, he can give advice daily... i can't give advice about planes!!), so when i'm actually on a plane, i feel a little tense, as i know what's going on.... and what can go wrong :)
I can't believe he succeeded in landing the plane, knowing that the pilot is dead....any civilian would be in shock and panic, so how he controlled a plane whilst only being qualified for a single plane licence..... it makes me happy :)
Re: Passenger lands plane in Fla. after pilot dies
Whats the big deal in flying a twin engine if someone is able to fly single engine.
If one engine would have failed then it would have been a big deal.
What I mean is that flying a perfectly good functioning two engine in this case should not be very difficult for someone who CAN fly a single engine specially if there was a help available from control tower.
Basic controls like throttle, aileron and rudder I suspect would be similar.
A certified pilot is also well trained not to panic.
Commercial planes have auto-pilot too. Pilots in commercial airline are required for emergencies/system malfunction situations and basic take-off and landing and Taxiing. These can be done remotely also.
Re: Passenger lands plane in Fla. after pilot dies
Whats the big deal in flying a twin engine if someone is able to fly single engine.
If one engine would have failed then it would have been a big deal.
What I mean is that flying a perfectly good functioning two engine in this case should not be very difficult for someone who CAN fly a single engine specially if there was a help available from control tower.
Basic controls like throttle, aileron and rudder I suspect would be similar.
A certified pilot is also well trained not to panic.
Commercial planes have auto-pilot too. Pilots in commercial airline are required for emergencies/system malfunction situations and basic take-off and landing and Taxiing. These can be done remotely also.
Diwana,
Surface knowledge about a thing is always a dangerous thing when you have no idea what lies under the surface.Your post gives away your naivete. Please get your pilots' license first and then talk about flying planes. No offense intended; this is my sincere and humble suggestion.
