An inexperienced passenger landed a small plane in Florida after the pilot became “disconnected” after an emergency.
In a live audio from a call to air traffic control at Fort Pierce Tower, an unidentified passenger could be heard warning, “I’m in a serious situation here.”
“My pilot has deviated. I have no idea how to fly the plane, but I continue at 91:00, “said the man.
When asked by the tower about his position, he replied, “I have no idea. I see the shores of Florida in front of me. And I have no idea.”
The dispatcher told the passenger to “keep the wings level” and “try to follow the shore, north or south” while they worked to locate the plane.
“Push forward on the controls and go down at a very low speed,” he added.
The passenger didn’t even know how to turn on the cockpit screens: “I can’t even get my navigation screen on,” he told the tower.
“It has all the information in it. Do you have any ideas about that?”
The controller – who was also a flight instructor – then guided the passenger on how to land the plane, and the single-engine Cessna 208 landed safely at Palm Beach International Airport.
Image: Cessna 208 was landed by a passenger. Screenshot: AP
As it landed, other planes listened to the broadcasts from the tower, unable to believe what had just happened.
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“Man, they did a great job,” one might say in a separate call log.
“You said the passengers landed the plane?” Another man asked.
“Oh my God! Great job.”
One can hear the first person say that the passenger did not have “any flying experience” before landing the plane.
Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office officials said a man was taken to hospital in connection with the incident, according to WPTV. They did not provide information about the condition or identity of the person, the news station reported.
The FAA is investigating the incident.
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