Passenger With No Flying Experience Safely Lands Plane After Pilot Becomes Too Ill To Fly

No one likes to hear that a pilot has no experience flying planes. After the pilot’s health deteriorated, a passenger with no prior flying experience safely landed a small plane.

A Cessna 208 was the plane. On May 10th, the pilot was flying his passengers from the Bahamas to Florida. When their trusty pilot informed them that he was feeling poorly, the two passengers were likely frightened. The plot ended up crashing against the controls in mid-flight, according to the FAA and the Federal Aviation Administration. The plane nosedived towards the ground and turned abruptly as a result of this. That’s when Darren Harrison stepped up and took control of his own life.

He had no choice but to take the controls, despite the fact that he had never flown a plane before. Darren had to first figure out how to contact air traffic control and alert them to the danger they were in.

“I’ve got a severe dilemma here,” Darren told air traffic control. My pilot has become illogical. I’m not sure how to fly an airplane.”

“ATC: 333 Lima Delta, Roger, what’s your position?” replied Control.

“I’m not sure.” I can see the Florida coast ahead of me, but I have no idea.” According to Darren.

“Keep wings level and just attempt to follow the shore, either northbound or southbound,” control said. “We’re looking for you.”

Robert Morgan, an air traffic controller, assisted Darren in his position. He has been a flight instructor for Palm Beach International Airport for the past 20 years. The only problem was that he had never flown the plane that Darren had commandeered. He eventually pulled out a chart of the plane’s cockpit and used it to direct Darren. Mr. Morgan was interviewed by WPBF-TV for some insight.

“I could tell the plane was flying normally. “I just knew I had to keep him calm, point him to the runway, and show him how to lower the engine so he could land,” Morgan explained.

Morgan was aware that the passenger lacked experience, but he had extensive experience directing planes to the ground. “Try to keep the wings level and see if you can start descending for me,” he instructed Darren. Push the controls forward and descend at a leisurely pace. Either north or south, try to follow the coast. “We’re looking for you.”

They had taken off with the aim of landing at Boca Raton, Florida, but Morgan felt that it would be better to direct them to Palm Beach International Airport, where the runway was less congested and considerably longer. Morgan directed Darren on how to begin their descent as they approached their final approach. Morgan urged, “push forward on the controls and drop at a very gradual rate.”

The plane landed safely at 16:45, and neither passenger sustained any injuries. The pilot is currently being treated at a hospital, although the nature of his medical problem is unknown.

Morgan’s advice helped Darren land the plane successfully. Other flights were ready to take off on the tarmac, and when the tower notified them that a passenger had landed that jet, they were blown away. They weren’t the only ones; Mr. Morgan was astounded by Darren’s calm demeanor and ability to perform in such a high-stress environment.

“You just observed a couple of passengers land that plane,” the tower operator told an American Airlines pilot waiting to take off. “Did you say the passengers landed the plane?” the pilot responded. Oh my God. “Wonderful work.”

Source: thepremierdaily.com