Air traffic controller: Helping passenger land plane felt like I was in a movie

AN air traffic controller who helped a passenger with no flying experience land a plane when the pilot suddenly fell ill has said it felt like he was in a movie.

The passenger radioed an urgent plea for help off Florida’s Atlantic coast on Tuesday and was able to land the plane safely with the help of Robert Morgan.

The air traffic controller said in a video released by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that he was just doing his job, but at a higher level than he thought he would have to. “We’ve never had anything like that,” he said.

According to the flight tracking company Flight Aware, the plane took off from Marsh Harbour Airport in the Bahamas. The aircraft was occupied by the pilot and two passengers, according to an FAA news release. Officials have not identified any of them.

Rescue workers assisted the original pilot, officials added. Neither passenger had any injuries. Officials did not immediately say what caused the pilot to fall ill.

“I’ve got a serious situation here,” the man who landed the plane said, according to audio on Liveatc.net, a website that broadcasts and archives air traffic controller communications. “My pilot has gone incoherent. I have no idea how to fly the airplane.”

An air traffic controller in Fort Pierce responded, asking if he knew his position. “I have no idea. I can see the coast of Florida in front of me,” the passenger said.

As the plane flew over Florida, controller Christopher Flores told the passenger to “maintain wings level and try to follow the coast, either north or southbound”. Twin controls enable a Cessna 208 to be steered from the passenger seat.

Minutes passed before controllers were able to locate the plane. The controller in Fort Pierce asked for the passenger’s mobile number so controllers at Palm Beach could talk to him more clearly. Mr Morgan then took over, talking the passenger down to a safe landing.