Personal Injury Law

Passenger Lands Plane After Pilot Dies Of Heart Attack Mid-Flight

By Chrissie Cole

A quick thinking passenger was able to land a twin-engine plane at Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers on Sunday, after the pilot passed out and died from a heart attack mid-flight.

Six people were aboard the King Air turboprop that was flying from Marco Island to Mississippi.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials, the aircraft was on autopilot and still climbing when the pilot died.

The passenger who made the emergency landing is a licensed pilot with 20 years of flight experience, although he is not certified to fly the Air King, a large luxury aircraft.

An air traffic controller called a friend who was able to instruct him. He landed the plane safely in about 15 to 20 minutes.

The names of the pilot and passengers have not been released.

The plane is owned by a leasing company out of Louisiana. #

Full post as published by InjuryBoard on April 13, 2009 (boomark / email).