Dramatic audio has revealed how a trainee pilot, on his first lesson, had to take control and land a plane after his instructor passed out mid-flight.
Max Sylvester took to the sky in a Cessna aircraft on Saturday afternoon in Western Australia before he called air traffic control when his instructor collapsed mid-flight. “He’s leaning over my shoulder, I’m trying to keep him up but he keeps falling down,” Mr Sylvester told the controller in audio provided to the ABC.
“Do you know how to operate the aeroplane?”, the operator asked. “This is my first lesson,” Mr Sylvester replies, adding he’s never landed a plane either. Trainee pilot, Max Sylvester, was behind the control for his first lesson when he made an emergency landing after his instructor fell unconscious. Picture: InstagramThe controller then guides the student through the landing, and praises his good work. “You’re doing a really great job. I know this is really stressful. But you’re going to do an amazing job and we’re going to help you get down to the ground,” he said. Mr Sylvester tried to lift the Air Australia International flying school instructor’s head but he remained unconscious and unresponsive, the audio reveals.The instructor was taken to hospital in a stable condition about 5pm. Chuck McElwee, who owns and operates the flying school, aid he’d never had an incident like this in his 28 years in business.The Cessna aircraft landed safely. Picture: ABC“This good outcome is what you hope for. It just worked out this time.” Mr McElwee praised the young pilot, tower controller and the back-up instructor who all “did an exceptional job”, and worked “incredibly well” to get everyone safely on the ground. He also praised the trainee pilot’s wife who “held it together” from the ground for their three young children.
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