Fighting For Control

Editorial Staff

Saturday, June 03, 2023 at 09:07 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A passenger pilot had to forcibly take control of an aircraft from a panicked pilot who froze during an ATC emergency, eventually landing safely.
The incident highlighted the critical need for physical intervention when a pilot is incapacitated and unwilling or unable to relinquish control.
Key lessons learned include the importance of practicing flying from both seats, trusting one's instincts, and never allowing an incapacitated pilot to retain control.

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I was a new private pilot with about 100 hours, training for my instrument rating. A schoolmate asked if I wanted to go as a passenger to a very busy international airport to pick up a friend. He was supposedly well-trained with more hours than me, but did not feel comfortable flying into a busy airport. Having trained at a busy airport, I was comfortable and used to flying in that airspace.

It was agreed that I was just a passenger unless needed for the short flight. Immediately after takeoff, I felt things were not right. He looked and flew with uncertainty, and his communication skills were sloppy.