(Photo : Cody Fitzgerald on Unsplash)
An Indiana couple out for a walk on a trail were struck by a private plane that fell from the sky.
A passenger with no experience in flying an aircraft managed to land an airplane in Florida on Tuesday as their pilot got sick during the flight and became "incoherent."
The single-engine Cessna 208 landed successfully at the Palm Beach International Airport around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to NBC News affiliate WPTV of West Palm Beach.
A live audio call was made by the unidentified passenger to Fort Pierce Tower, informing the authorities on the ground about the emergency they were experiencing during the flight.
The passenger can be heard during the audio call saying, "I've got a serious situation here."
"My pilot has gone incoherent," the passenger added.
But the next thing he told the ground control indicated that the situation was a lot worse.
"I have no idea how to fly the airplane."
Thrilling Landing
The dispatcher calmly responds: "Roger. What's your position?"
As personnel attempted to track the plane, the dispatcher can be heard advising the passenger to "maintain wings level" and "just try to follow the coast, either north or southbound."
Someone can be heard commenting in a separate call log from the air traffic control station that they did a tremendous job, as the passenger seemingly maintained his composure and focused on his task of bringing the plane on the ground safely, per USA Today.
This is brand new video (courtesy of Jeff Chandler) of a passenger landing a plane today at PBIA.
— Ari Hait (@wpbf_ari) May 11, 2022
His pilot had passed out, and the passenger with zero flight experience was forced to land the plane.
Team coverage of this amazing landing is on @WPBF25News at 11. pic.twitter.com/jFLIlTp6Zs
Another person inquired clarifying if the passengers had landed the plane, and when it was confirmed, he said, "Oh, that was amazing."
Before landing the plane, the first person can be heard, indicating that the passenger has "no flying experience." They said that a controller who was also a flight teacher assisted them in landing the plane.
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FAA Investigates the Incident
According to a Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office spokesperson, one person was taken to the hospital as a result of the incident. The individual's health and identity, however, were not disclosed by officials. Members of the press have contacted the sheriff's office to gain further details.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident.
Tiny turboprop planes like the Cessna 208 Caravan are not uncommon to fly with only one pilot, especially when the flights are private, according to aviation experts.
The Cessna Caravan aircraft are well-known for their robust utility and versatility. The aircraft offers a one-of-a-kind combination of great performance, low operating costs, and mission adaptability, according to the company website.
The PT6A-114A turbine engine, which is powerful, efficient, and dependable, is responsible for the Caravan turboprop's remarkable cargo capabilities.
The plane seats nine people with a single pilot, but with a FAR Part 23 waiver, it may accommodate up to 14 passengers. It is also possible to use the plane for cargo feeder liner flights.
Cessna set the benchmark for the private aviation business after the Second World War, per Britannica, with a series of best-selling single- and twin-engine planes. In 1954, It began manufacturing the T-37, the United States' first main and intermediate jet trainer for the US Air Force.
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