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Heroic Landing: Woman Without Flight Experience Lands Plane After Pilot Husband's Heart Attack

A woman successfully landed a plane in California with guidance from air traffic controllers after her husband, the pilot, suffered a fatal heart attack mid-flight.

  • The couple was flying a Beechcraft King Air 90 from Henderson, Nevada, to Monterey, California, when the incident occurred.
  • At approximately 5,900 feet, the 78-year-old pilot collapsed due to a heart attack, leaving his wife to take control of the aircraft.
  • Despite having no flight experience, the woman managed to land the plane safely at Meadows Field Airport in Bakersfield, California.
  • Air traffic controllers provided crucial instructions over the radio, helping the woman navigate the emergency landing.
  • Emergency services awaited their arrival, but the pilot was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after landing.
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