Passenger Becomes Pilot In Emergency »
Seventy-seven-year-old non-pilot passenger John Wildey became his own rescuer when he took the controls of a Cessna 172 at night, Tuesday, and with the help of an instructor on the ground, landed safely at Humberside airport, UK, after the plane's pilot lost consciousness. The pilot was removed from the cockpit after the landing and later died at a local hospital. Early reports suggest the cockpit was dimly lit and the aircraft was not operating external lights -- complicating things for both Wildey and his helpers on the ground. The aircraft's landing came on a fourth attempt and it was not smooth. More
