I read in the Chicago Sun-Times today that a plane,a King Air, took off from Fort Meyer and immediately after taking-off the pilot died, from most likely a heart attack. A passenger, who is a civilian pilot but licensed for single engine aircraft took over and with the help of the Air Traffic Controller,who called a friend knowledgable with the King Air, was able to safely land the aircraft.
My hats off to this person for keeping a level head and saving all lives involved.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/1524191,w-passenger-plane-lands-pilot-dies-0...

...just curious...

If it's a commercial Passenger Aircraft (King Air), shouldn't there be a Co-Pilot in the right-hand seat, ready to take over?

Paul..G-BPLF... ...!

DaveSims wrote on Apr 13^th, 2009 at 3:56pm:


...next time your board a King Air, make sure there is.....

(a) A Pilot.
(b) A Co-Pilot.
(c) At least one Experienced Flight Sim Enthusiast.

...on board......!

Paul...G-BPLF... ...!

C wrote on Apr 13^th, 2009 at 4:33pm:


Blimey... ...!

Aren't Co-Pilots in Commercial Passenger Aircraft trained to fly, and land an aircraft, in an emergency siuation, (Pilot-in-charge dies, or gets taken seriously ill).... ...?

Paul.... ...!

You don't have to have a copilot in a King Air, commercial flight or otherwise.

Sorry to labour the point, Chums... ..!

But as there is always the possibility of the Captain-in-Charge being taken ill in an Aircraft full of paying Passengers, commercial or otherwise, wouldn't the safety regulations insist on there being a Co-Pilot in the right-hand seat, to take over control, in the emergency?

The passenger 'Bus containing the single dead Driver, will inevitably coast to a standstill on the road...and the passengers will (safely) alight..

The passenger Aircraft containing the single dead Pilot, will fall to the ground from a great height, guaranteeing the death of all on board... ...!

Co-Pilot a good idea?... ...?

Paul... ...!

Hagar wrote on Apr 14^th, 2009 at 4:41am:


Not to mention the numerous DH Rapides that fly passengers at shows around the country. I suspect those that operate the Twin Otter up in the Scottish islands are single pilot too.

Our flight from Lands End to the Scilly Iles was with a single pilot, granted it was 13 years ago (!) but I doubt much has changed

Fozzer wrote on Apr 14^th, 2009 at 4:11am:

Not if you are a single piston engine rated pilot flying in your own plane at the time of said death... Oh wait.... 


Story isn't that amazing... Still an accomplishment to land something you aren't trained to and all that, but the story seems to be getting glued together (badly) bit by bit, day by day. Didn't one of his daughters throw up? That's not going to be pleasant.

I agree about the co-pilot bit though. If only because it was a commerical flight. I mean, you'd expect atleast two people up front in your Boeing 757 trip, so why not here? I know it's been explained, but it still seems silly as proven here.

Craig. wrote on Apr 16^th, 2009 at 6:45am:

Can't find that but here's another one. This one had 179 souls aboard. ---> Pilot has heart attack

(Funny looking 767. Either they got the aircraft type or the photo wrong.)

The news report doesn't go into detail but I presume the Alitalia 767 had a co-pilot.

Most airliners used to carry a flight engineer until the position was made redundant. All a matter of cost & efficiency.