In a remarkable display of courage and quick thinking, a female passenger in a Piper Meridian assumed control of the aircraft after the 79-year-old pilot experienced a medical emergency. The incident occurred on Saturday at Martha's Vineyard Airport in Massachusetts, where the passenger successfully crash-landed the aircraft off the runway. While both individuals were transported to a nearby hospital, the woman emerged unscathed and has since been released. However, the pilot remains hospitalized in a serious and life-threatening condition. The aircraft sustained significant damage during the incident.
According to authorities, the plane was in the final stages of landing when the pilot suffered an undisclosed medical emergency. State Police reported that the woman bravely took over the controls and managed to guide the plane to a hard landing outside the runway, resulting in the breakage of the aircraft's left wing. The identities of the individuals involved have not been disclosed, and it is currently unknown whether the passenger possessed any formal flight training.
