A passenger on a plane flying over Florida has achieved a feat they have never seen before. The pilot of the plane received medical attention, but with the help of Air Traffic Control, a passenger does not have flying experience better landing than some experienced pilots.
On Tuesday morning, Cessna 208 Caravan register N333LD departing from Leonard Thompson Airport in Great Abaco Island, Bahamas. The plane operated by Beach Amphibian LLC flew to Florida’s Treasure Coast International Airport. Based on Flight knowledge, it’s a jokeIt usually takes just over an hour, but this time the flight was hit by an emergency where the pilot became lose the ability to work.
As report via WPBF Newsduring the flight, One passenger called Air Traffic Control, telling the controller on the other line that the pilot was unclear and that they didn’t know how to fly the plane. But the landing of two passengers on the plane now.
Cessna Caravan that the passenger is currently driving is a turbofan engine known for its use and longevity. However, this plane is not like the Cessna 172 or 150 you usually see at a flight school. As a pilot interviewed by WPBF notea very complicated Caravan for someone who doesn’t have any hours, and the passenger must find a way to lower it safely.
Thankfully, the identified passenger had an excellent air traffic controller on the other end, Robert Morgan, Treasure Coast airport controller. As CNN Travel report, Morgan is a certified flight instructor. He had no Caravan experience, but he pulled a picture of the Caravan’s dashboard and started guiding the passengers. Together, they will keep the plane in the sky, find the airport and guide the Caravan to land safely.
From the beginning, Morgan asked the passenger about the location of the plane, but the passenger did not know: “I don’t know. I see the Florida coast in front of me and I don’t know.”
In the ATC . scorecard obtained by aviation blog Kathryn’s reportthe passenger seems to have some aviation knowledge and the transponder can be set to 7700 (emergency signaling). CNN Travel Note that while passengers have never flown, they have have watched pilots fly before.
Morgan instructs passengers to keep the plane level with the wing and land slowly: “Try to stay level with the wing and see if you can start descending for me. Push forward on the controls and down at a very slow speed. ”
The tower had yet to locate the plane on radar, so Morgan also directed passengers to follow the shore. The plane followed the coast in a northerly direction while Morgan tried to locate it. Passengers at the controls were unable to turn on the plane’s navigation screens.
Morgan contacted controllers at Palm Beach International Airport, who were able to spot the plane about 20 miles east of Boca Raton. With that information, Morgan directs passengers toward Palm Beach. When the plane is about eight o’clock miles away, Morgan dropped off passengers at ATC in Palm Beach.
WWith the help of Palm Beach’s ATC, the passenger configured the plane to land and land safely. Palm Beach’s controller announced over the air that the plane had just landed on a runway commanded by a passenger.
Pilots and aviation experts interviewed by WPBF be praised passengers for amazing aviation skills. With ATC’s help, a passenger with no flight time landed a turbofan with someone more experienced. One expert said that they had never witnessed a Caravan land by someone with no flying experience. And Morgan met and hugged his impromptu student.
The FAA is investigating the incident and the pilot’s condition has not been released at this time.
