Passenger lands plane after pilot dies

 

A passenger landed a twin-engine plane at Southwest Florida International Airport after the pilot died in flight, saving four lives.

Federal Aviation Administration officials say the pilot died after takeoff from Marco Island Executive Airport on Sunday. The plane was on autopilot and climbing past 10,000 feet when the pilot died.

The passenger who took the controls has been licensed for single-engine planes for 20 years, but isn’t certified to fly the King Air plane, a large luxury model.

To instruct him, an air traffic controller called a friend in Connecticut who is rated to fly the aircraft. The plane landed safely.

The plane was headed to Jackson, Miss. The names of the pilot and passengers have not been released.

Source: Passenger lands plane in Fla. after pilot dies

Photo: Flickr user F18E777