Australia - Young Pilot hailed a hero after landing plane while under attack

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Young pilot praised for safely landing a plane while 'under attack' from passenger


A young pilot who made an emergency landing in central NSW after an elderly passenger tried to cut the light plane's engine has been praised for his quick thinking.

Police are investigating the mid-air drama after the 23-year-old was forced to land the single-engine plane in a paddock near Oberon at 3pm yesterday.

The 82-year-old passenger reportedly flicked a lever to shut down the engines of the four-seater aircraft and seized the controls during the charter flight.

The pilot wrestled with the man in the cockpit and restrained him, then sent out a distress call before making the emergency landing.

The elderly man had booked the flight with Australia By Air from Sydney to Cowra, with the plane departing Bankstown Airport about 2pm yesterday.

The pilot's efforts left the elderly man with head and facial injuries.



Read more at http://www.9news.com.au/national/20...assenger-to-be-questioned#CGwH4Z3DpklBHhxc.99


Lucky this old guy didn't kill them all.
 
The 23-year-old pilot had to restrain his 82-year-old passenger before landing the Beechcraft Duchess aircraft in a paddock off Titania Road in Oberon just before 3pm on Monday.

"The pilot said that he started grabbing the controls, turning off fuel lines, and turning buttons randomly on and off," Acting Inspector Gareth Smith said.

The pilot reportedly made a "pan-pan" distress call and had to restrain the passenger shortly before making an emergency landing.

No one was seriously injured during the landing. However, the 82-year-old man was taken to Westmead Hospital with head and facial injuries.

Acting Inspector Smith said police were yet to interview the elderly man about what had occurred. He said it was unclear whether the man was suffering from a medical condition, resulting in his behaviour.


http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/midflight...o-make-emergency-landing-20140825-108acq.html
 
Missionary involved in mid-flight drama

A Christian missionary who allegedly tried to wrestle the controls from a young pilot mid-air, forcing an emergency landing, is a well-travelled pilot with years of experience.

Les Nixon is recovering in hospital after a 23-year-old pilot was forced to subdue him when Mr Nixon allegedly grabbed the controls of the four-seater Duchess light aircraft in which they were airborne.

The pilot, named in media reports as James Chandler, has told police Mr Nixon, 82, started switching off fuel lines and pushing control buttons.




A pilot has made a dramatic call to air traffic control (Audio)


http://www.9news.com.au/national/20...assenger-to-be-questioned#TMmcdmdFBxqzyVO8.99




Omg, sounds so scary, luckily he kept his wits about him and could land the plane after subduing the old guy. :scared:
 
With only the phrase 'Christian missionary' to go on, that just seems so out-of-character for the elderly man to do. I wonder if there was some medical issue at play here. I'm sure that's being investigated.

Oh, and found this article: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...039004806?nk=6757ca18a310a332a7c368bf3ab4624d

"Possibly due to the injuries he sustained during the flight, Les currently has no memory of the events immediately preceding the forced landing," a statement issued through Australia's Outback Patrol read.
 

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