A passenger with no aircraft experience successfully landed a small plane in Florida after the pilot suddenly fell ill.
Per the New York Post, after noticing something was wrong, the Cessna Caravan passenger - whose name has not been released yet - contacted air traffic control to alert them of the serious situation when the pilot started to suffer a medical emergency.
The passenger was reportedly heard telling air traffic controllers: "Pilot has gone incoherent. I have no idea how to fly the airplane."
The dispatcher quickly responded and asked the passenger what his position was, and he answered: "I have no idea. I can see the coast of Florida in front of me. And I have no idea."
Watch the heroic plane landing below:The controller then offered guidance and instructed the passenger: "Maintain wings level and just try to follow the coast, either north or southbound. We’re trying to locate you."
Thankfully, the team located the plane about 25 miles north of Palm Beach in Boca Raton and coached the passenger to descend the plane so they could land safe and steady.
The plane was then safely on the ground around 12:30PM on Tuesday, the FAA confirmed in a statement to TODAY.
After the suspenseful saga, the controller declared over the radio: "You just witnessed a couple passengers land that plane."
Another person was heard saying: "Did you say the passengers landed the plane?"
To which the controller replied: "That’s correct."
Aviation expert John Nance spoke on the situation and praised the passenger: "This is the first time I’ve ever heard of one of these [Cessna Caravans] being landed by somebody that has no aeronautical experience."
"The person on the airplane who had no aeronautical experience listened very carefully and obviously followed instructions with great calm," Nance continued. "That’s what made the difference," Nance added.
According to the plane's manufacturer, the 38-foot-long Cessna Caravan can reach speeds of 215 miles per hour, has a wingspan of 52 feet, and can hold up to 14 people.
The pilot, who remained unconscious, was later taken to the hospital. Their condition remains unknown.
The Federal Aviation Administration is carrying out an investigation.
