Passenger Lands Plane After Pilot Dies

Disaster was averted in southern Florida on Sunday, April 12th, when a passenger successfully landed a twin-engine plane after the pilot died during the flight.

The Beechcraft King Air 200, a twin-engine charter plane, was carrying a total of six people and was on its way past 10,000 feet when the pilot suffered an apparent seizure.

One of the passengers on board was licensed to fly smaller, single-engine planes, but had no experience with larger twin-engine planes.

Amazingly, one of the air traffic controller's friends had extensive experience flying Beechcraft King Air 200s. The air traffic controller relayed information from the friend in Connecticut to the passenger at the controls in order to bring the plane down safely.

The flight originated from Marco Island Executive Airport and was bound for Jackson, Mississippi. Rather than continuing to Jackson, the plane was redirected to the closest nearby airport, Southwest Florida International Airport. In accordance with FAA policy, none of the names of passengers, the controllers, or the pilot have been released at this time.

While the pilot's death is a tragedy, it is amazing that such a potentially disastrous situation was avoided.