Passenger Lands Plane Safely

By Jessica Madison on April 13th, 2009

After the pilot experienced a fatal seizure 20 minutes after takeoff on Sunday, a passenger successfully landed the Beechcraft King Air two-engine turboprop plane at Southwest Florida International Airport. When Miami’s air traffic controller couldn’t reach the pilot, they soon became suspicious about who was flying the plane.

After a few minutes the passenger responded “This is November 55 Niner Delta Whisky and my pilot is passed out. We need help now.’” Air traffic control heard his plea and decided to phone an expert on the Beechcraft King, to help the passenger land the plane safely.

The passenger, who was a certified pilot himself on another aircraft, had no license or experience on this type of plane. The original flight destination was Jackson, Mississippi, but the passenger turned the plane around and landed in Ft. Myers. Air traffic control applauded themselves and the passenger for rescuing a near tragic situation. They are dubbing it the “Easter Miracle.”