Pilot in training puts aircraft on the ground after instructor loses consciousness

Australian Max Sylvester will not soon forget his first flying lesson in a Cessna on Saturday in Perth. The pilot in training suddenly saw how his instructor lost consciousness and then had to land the device himself. He passed with the enormous distinction.

Max Sylvester, from Western Australia, had barely had two flying lessons and had never landed when his teacher suddenly dropped out during his first lesson in a Cessna on Saturday. After about an hour of flying, Sylvester had to let air traffic control know that he was in need. “He leans against my shoulder,” Sylvester said about his instructor. “I try to get it straight, but it keeps falling over.”

When asked if he could drive the Cessna, the student pilot said: “This is my first lesson”. Personnel from the control tower at Jandakot Airport in Perth had to accompany Sylvester to land him safely. That worked wonderfully well, under the frightened eyes of the wife and three children of Sylvester.

The flight school praised Sylvester and air traffic control afterward. She said that the plane had not suffered the slightest damage and that it was “a perfect landing”.

The instructor was transferred to the hospital. His condition was stable.