Pilot Dies, Passenger Lands King Air [ Instant - PICK ]

On , a King Air C90 was flying from Henderson, Nevada, to Monterey, California, when the pilot suffered a fatal medical emergency.

A female passenger with some aviation knowledge but no pilot’s license was forced to take the controls. PILOT DIES, Passenger Lands King Air

Guided by air traffic controllers and local pilots on the ground, she diverted the twin-engine turboprop to Meadows Field Airport in Bakersfield. After circling three times to line up, she successfully touched down. The plane overran the runway into a grassy area, but both the passenger and the aircraft were unharmed. On , a King Air C90 was flying

There have been two notable and remarkably similar incidents where a passenger had to land a after the pilot was incapacitated, with the most recent occurring in late 2024. Bakersfield, California (October 2024) After circling three times to line up, she