Heroic passenger lands plane in Cafter pilot falls ill
A dramatic situation occurred in the American skies. Due to the sudden illness of a pilot, a female passenger took over the controls and safely landed at Bakersfield Airport in California.
The twin-engine turboprop Super King Air 350ER incident occurred at the end of last week.
Passenger made emergency landing
The pilot lost consciousness and could not perform his duties, so the female passenger had to take over the controls and make an emergency landing.
She received support from the aviation and marine section of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP). In the recording shared online, an employee is very calm and provides specific instructions to the woman. Thanks to this cooperation, she managed to land safely.
Brandon Tucker, director of the Air and Marine Branch (AMBA) in San Diego, emphasized that the successful landing reflects the expertise of the aviation crews, the swift coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the collaborative efforts of all parties involved, according to UPI on Tuesday.
A multi-task aircraft also participated in the operation to inform the passengers of the correct flight path to Bakersfield Airport. The crew used radio communication and visual contact to escort the turboprop. The assistance of air traffic control was also significant.
Immediately after landing, the pilot was taken to the hospital, and the heroic passenger was not injured.
Turboprop
According to UPI, the Super King Air 350ER reaches a maximum speed of about 400 km/h, has a maximum range of about 2,200 km, and has a maximum operational ceiling of about 5,500 metres.
This aircraft type has a maritime surveillance radar, weather radar, and electro-optical infrared sensor.
