The man who jumped into action and landed a plane earlier this week after the pilot fainted revealed to Savannah Guthrie of TODAY that he had experienced a surprising emotion in the wake of the crisis: Calm down.
In an exclusive interview with TODAY, Darren Harrison, who had no previous experience as a pilot, said that he did not really worry about the terrible situation until the plane was safe on the ground.
“The other day someone asked me what my heart rate was or what my heart rate was when it all happened, and I said, ‘Probably in the’ 90s, ‘” said Harrison, an interior designer. “And they said, ‘What about when it’s over?’ And I said it was probably 160.”
Harrison, who is expecting a child with his wife this summer, said he did not have time to panic during the landing.
Harrison sat down with Savannah in an exclusive interview about his experience. (TODAY)
“While I stopped the plane, it hit me,” Harrison, 39, continued as Savannah looked at him in awe. “I was pretty calm and collected all the time because I knew it was a life or death situation. You’re either doing what you have to do to control the situation, or you’re going to die. And that’s what I did.”
Harrison’s full interview with Savannah will air today, Monday, May 16th.
Last week, Harrison and another passenger were flying back from fishing in the Bahamas when their pilot suffered emergency medical care and fainted. Harrison and his fellow pilot were able to move the pilot, and Harrison gained access to the controls.
The whole incident was recorded on LiveATC audio. Harrison can be heard talking to air traffic controllers, revealing how alarming the situation has been.
“I have a serious situation here, my pilot has deviated,” Harrison said. “I have no idea how to fly the plane.”
When asked what his position was, Harrison told inspectors he had “no idea.”
“I see the coast of Florida in front of me and I have no idea,” he said.
The story continues
With careful guidance, the air traffic controller was able to tell Harrison through the landing steps. By 12:30 p.m., the single-engine Cessna 208 was safely on the ground at Palm Beach International Airport. Robert Morgan, the superintendent under Harrison, called him his “best student ever.”
“My heart just sank and I just thought, ‘Thank God!'” Said Morgan, who is also a part-time flight instructor, recalling the time Harrison said the plane landed safely. “”Thank goodness”. . ‘ I was just overwhelmed with excitement. “
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