Controller Robert Morgan, left, with the passenger he helped land a single-engine Cessna safely after an unusual in-flight emergency. [Courtesy: FAA]
Key Takeaways:
A pilot became incapacitated mid-flight on a Cessna 208 Caravan charter from the Bahamas to Florida, leaving an untrained passenger, Darren Harrison, to take the controls.
Air traffic controller Chip Flores initially made contact, then handed off to Robert Morgan, a commercial pilot and certified flight instructor, due to radio issues and Morgan's piloting expertise.
Morgan meticulously guided Harrison, who had no prior flight experience, through flying the aircraft, making critical decisions like selecting Palm Beach International Airport for its long runway.
Despite the severe challenges, Morgan's expert coaching enabled the passenger to successfully land the aircraft safely at Palm Beach International Airport.
What seemed like a routine charter flight from the Bahamas to Florida on Tuesday took an unexpected turn for two passengers in a Cessna 208 Caravan when the pilot became incapacitated, slumped against the controls, and sent the aircraft into a dive.
The day also changed for air traffic controllers Chip Flores and Robert Morgan.
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Jonathan Welsh is Lead Editor of Aviation Consumer and a private pilot who worked as a reporter, editor and columnist with the Wall Street Journal for 21 years, mostly covering the auto industry. His passion for aviation began in childhood with balsa-wood gliders his aunt would buy for him at the corner store. Follow Jonathan on Twitter @JonathanWelsh4
