Photograph by Arpingstone
A teenager was forced to take the controls and fly a plane for around three-quarters on an hour after the pilot passed out.
Troy Jenkins, 19, took control of the single propeller engined Cessna 150 over rural Australia after Derek Neville, 61, passed out at the controls.
Describing the incident, an Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) spokesman said:
The pilot became incapacitated and the passenger was in the aircraft looking after things for a time, I don’t know how long.
Passengers raised the alarm with air traffic controllers, who then gave Jenkins instructions to circle over Forbes Aerodrome and dump fuel in preparation for an emergency landing. Luckily, however, Neville regained consciousness and was able to land the plane safely at the aerodrome.
The ambulance crew on scene found Neville conscious but suffering from chest pains, for which he was flown to Orange Base Hospital. He is reported to be in a stable condition.
