Passenger lands plane at Humberside Airport after pilot falls ill

8 October 2013 Last updated at 23:49

A passenger has landed an aeroplane at Humberside Airport after the pilot fell ill at the controls.

Police, fire and ambulance crews were called to the airport after the pilot collapsed and a distress call was made from the aircraft.

Two flying instructors were called in to advise the passenger how to bring the plane down.

One of them, Roy Murray, said the passenger had no flying experience and did a "remarkable job".

Mr Murray, who works at a flying school based at the airport, said: "He made quite a good landing actually.

"He didn't know the layout of the aeroplane, he didn't have lights on so he was absolutely flying blind as well.

"I think he'd flown once before as a passenger but never flown an aeroplane before."

Mr Murray said he tried to keep the man calm as he talked him through the landing procedure.

"The last thing you want to do is panic, then all sorts of things can happen."

Police, fire and ambulance crews were called to the airport

He said there were cheers in the airport control room as the plane landed safely on its fourth attempt.

"It's a fantastic feeling knowing I have achieved something and probably saved somebody's life.

"I think without any sort of talk down he would have just gone into the ground and that would have been the end of it."

'Heard crashing'

Stuart Sykes said he saw the aircraft land at about 19:50 BST.

"It came down with a bump, a bump, a bump, hit the front end down, I heard some crashing and it's come to a halt," he told BBC Look North.

"There were a few sparks and three or four crashes, that must have been the propeller hitting the floor.

"Then it uprighted again and it came to a stop."

The pilot and passenger were the only people on board the aircraft, which took off from Sandtoft Airfield 25 miles (40km) away.

Details of the pilot's condition have not been released.

The North Lincolnshire airport said a full emergency plan was put in place. Roads surrounding the airport were closed but have since reopened.

Two incoming flights from Aberdeen and Amsterdam were delayed while the aircraft was removed from the runway.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-24450534

Wow!!!

Incredible!!! I remember when I controled a bus from running into a bush when the driver dosed off. I felt like a hero after I woke the driver with a hot slap.

Two flying instructors were
called in to advise the
passenger how to bring the
plane down.

One of them, Roy Murray, said
the passenger had no flying
experience and did a
"remarkable job".

the passenger was very brave and intelligent to be sincere.

God saved them, the passenger isn't a nigeria. Obviously, during that time he heard the pilot was sick and couldn't do anything again, the next thing he would turn to will be prayer(mountain of fire type) to the extent that he wouldn't hear anything from the two flying instructors but expecting to hear from God to teach him how to land the plane.

Tolexander: the passenger was very brave and intelligent to be sincere.

God saved them, the passenger isn't a nigeria. Obviously, during that time he heard the pilot was sick and couldn't do anything again, the next thing he would turn to will be prayer(mountain of fire type) to the extent that he wouldn't hear anything from the two flying instructors but expecting to hear from God to teach him how to land the plane.

@ bolded, must you drag Nigeria into this? Do you think Nigerians are dumbass people who only pray and can't act when its necessary? SMH

wow this is incredible. We in Nigeria just need to put the right things at the right time in order. in events like these, you need to locate the nearest pilot instructor and that is why airport school needs to be at the airport and not far from it.

dvdon: Incredible!!! I remember when I controled a bus from running into a bush when the driver dosed off. I felt like a hero after I woke the driver with a hot slap.

hahahahhahahahahaah,him head go hear am be that. Thumbs up dude.

D guy get mind o. Bt how come na only him and d pilot de inside d plane?
Juxt curious.......

I agree with Abu Mikey.Desperate measeures calls for desperate means.Until you're faced with some challenges,you'll never imagine you'll overcome them.

This is the advantage of having expertriates and someone of skill and manpower aboard.you never can tell when you'll be useful.

Thanks God say Yoruba woman nor dey inside the plane. You will hear noise like yay! Oriyami o! Jesuuu o! Duraiva! Duraiva!! Wake up nau! Iku reee!!

The courageous passenger would have lost every hope of landing the plane before even trying.