Passenger Takes Control to Safely Land Plane After Pilot Had Fatal Medical Emergency Mid-Air
- A passenger helped land the private plane they were, on Sunday, April 14, after its pilot experienced a medical emergency in the air
- The pilot, who later died, has since been identified as Duke University professor Joseph Izatt
- In a statement, his school dean described Izatt as an exceptionally thoughtful leader who weighed every decision with care
A passenger helped land a private plane safely in North Carolina on Sunday, April 14, after the aircraft's pilot suddenly experienced a fatal medical emergency.
Source: Getty Images
According to a spokesperson for the airport and an incident report obtained by PEOPLE Magazine, the passenger took control of the Cirrus SR-20 and landed it at Raleigh-Durham International Airport shortly after the medical emergency was reported onboard the aircraft.
The pilot was transported to a local hospital shortly after the private plane landed safely on RDU’s secondary runway, the spokesperson says.
According to local ABC affiliate WTVD and NBC affiliate WRAL-TV, the victim has been identified as Duke University professor Joseph Izatt.
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The passenger's identity has not been disclosed.
According to a news release from the university, Izatt joined Duke in 2001 and served as a professor of engineering and the chair of Duke’s Department of Biomedical Engineering.
“He was an exceptionally thoughtful leader who weighed every decision with a care that originated with his deep love for the BME community,” said Pratt School Dean Jerome Lynch in the release.
“The integrity and humility he brought as a school leader will be missed.”
Cellphone footage captured by Evan Caulfield showed paramedics putting the person in an ambulance, per WTVD.
"I knew I was witnessing something," he said.
It is unclear what kind of medical emergency occurred on the plane, or when.
Passenger without flying experience lands plane
Previously, a passenger stepped up to the mantle to land a plane after the pilot became incapacitated.
The passenger was heard telling air traffic control that he did not know how to fly a plane during the incident.
An air traffic controller then started providing the passenger with instructions on how to land the plane, and it touched down safely.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
