A trainee pilot was forced to make an emergency landing during his first flying lesson when his instructor fell unconscious.
Max Sylvester rang in to air traffic control in Western Australia after his instructor collapsed in the two-seater Cessna plane.
“He’s leaning over my shoulder, I’m trying to keep him up but he keeps falling down,” Mr Sylvester told the controller in audio provided to ABC.
“Do you know how to operate the aeroplane?” the controller asked.
“This is my first lesson,” Mr Sylvester replied.
Over the next 62 minutes, the controller guided Mr Sylvester through the landing. The student pilot's wife and three young children listened from air traffic control.
“You’re doing a really great job. I know this is really stressful. But you’re going to do an amazing job and we’re going to help you get down to the ground,” the controller said.
Mr Sylvester landed the plane safely at Jandakot Airport, reportedly after making several passes over the runway.
The instructor, from the Air Australia International flying school, was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition, local media reported.
Chuck McElwee, who owns and operates the flying school, said no incident like it had ever occurred during his 28 years in business.
“This good outcome is what you hope for. It just worked out this time,” he said.
Additional reporting by AP
