Passenger with No Flying Experience Lands Plane after Pilot Falls Ill

(Photo: a different Cessna 172 via Huhu Uet)

John Wildey, 77, and his friend, a pilot, were on an excursion in a Cessna 172 out of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, UK. The pilot collapsed in the middle of the flight. Wildey had never flown a plane before, but he had no alternative but to try. He got on the radio with flying instructors. With their guidance, he was able to successfully land the plane at an airport in Humberside. You can watch a video interview with Mr. Wildey about the experience here.

Tragically, the pilot has since died.

-via Glenn Reynolds