Real Pilot Story: Trouble over Paradise

[@CaptainSuarez]

What a legend the ATC controller.

[@robertmorgan3947]

It was a Team effort . Thank You

[@SkremoMcThrftsto]

​@@robertmorgan3947You absolutely nailed it, man. Great job in helping save 2 lives. Cheers!

[@mbboisvert]

Gotta love the ATCCs 😄

[@rl7012]

Its a shame Darren isn't interviewed too. I would have loved to hear his take on all this. What a scary situation he found himself in and yet he remained calm and saved all those on the plane with the help of ATC.

[@neilsingh5311]

He’s given interviews elsewhere.

[@AirSafetyInstitute]

Unfortunately, Darren declined the request for an interview.

[@JBalloonist]

He gave an interview to ABC’s morning news show a while back. It’s on KZbin.

[@mtadc1545]

@@JBalloonistshame he gave an interview to mainstream media but not AOPA who do amazing work to spread the word of safety.

[@michaelpelham8755]

What was the medical issue?

[@AkPacerPilot]

I certainly hope the friend is pursuing his ppl, guy sounded better on the radio than most fully licensed pilots. Glad to hear the pilot is now healthy and flying again.

[@cturdo]

ATC actually informing themselves and helping the emergency aircraft. Great job guys!

[@FranksMSFlightSimulator]

Missing - Darren interview and pilot’s medical condition! Cheers.

[@TheWalterHWhite]

Darren had more flight experience than he let on. Not discounting the miraculous nature of this incident, but it has been revealed that he was more than familiar in this cockpit.

[@raysutton2310]

I've seen this story on several avaition channels, it's good to see this from the ATC perspective, nice! .

[@SkylineBaronPilot]

World class job! Amazing interview capturing Florida’s best ATC. Team work to its finest!! 🤩 Thank you for sharing! Glad everyone is okay 🙏

[@kahuna0147]

What medical condition did the pilot suffer? Was he able to get his medical reinstated?

[@AirSafetyInstitute]

Ken suffered an aortic aneurysm. Thankfully, he has since fully recovered and is back to flying!

[@MikeKobb]

@@AirSafetyInstituteWow. That is a real widow maker. Great news that he’s come through it and is back flying.

[@CCitis]

@@AirSafetyInstitutewow! He is so lucky to survive that.

[@Strathclydegamer]

⁠@@AirSafetyInstituteappreciate the update, not what I expected at all. Presumed with the symptoms it would be a stroke or subarachnoid haemorrhage, a AAA with the only symptom being a sudden headache and loss of consciousness is equally as unusual as the calmness and skill of the passenger who landed! A few case studies mention it, but it’s an unusual presenting symptom. Fascinating! I’d heard of this incident before thanks to Mentour Pilot, but love seeing your take on it too 😁

[@GusHeck]

@Strathclydegamer I've seen this one done on Mentour and I think one other that I don't recall each version has a few interesting details to add. This one is nice because it has interviews with the pilot.

[@halfrhovsquared]

What a great story. The non-pilot (impromptu pilot) passenger sounds like a smart guy. He listens. He takes things in. His radio comms were top-notch, and he remained calm. He may be a "non-pilot" but clearly, he has been exposed to aviation and knows more than the average ground-dweller. Well done to him for taking control of the situation and seeking the help he required. Of course, well done to the controllers who gave him that assistance.

[@NoelleTakestheSky]

Hundreds of hours as a passenger. More experience in the air in a small aircraft than many licensed pilots.

[@jordanjayd]

He was calmer than that ATPL Alaska Airlines female pilot with the blown off plug door

[@halfrhovsquared]

@@jordanjayd - I've not heard the audio from that flight, yet.

[@jeffclark5268]

@@jordanjaydslightly different scenario I’d say.

[@jordanjayd]

@@jeffclark5268 most emergency scenarios will be different it's about keeping your cool and reacting calmly and professionally.

[@danevans3749]

Great job Darrin! Great job by all the ATC! Lives saved because of you guys.

[@Elon_Marz]

Amazing teamwork guys! Your true legends.

[@CCitis]

Awesome. I remember wondering how the pilot was doing… major kudos to the friend. Great work.

[@clarkharms]

I remember this story, it made national headlines. I also remember that the non-pilot passenger did have pilot training. Hard to believe he didn’t given the recordings, his verbiage was not one of a non pilot.

[@rdawgz866]

From what I remember he had 100's of hours next to his friend.

[@Milkmans_Son]

Congratulations non-pilot, you did such a great job that everyone's going to call you a lying piece of garbage. Have fun!

[@miragesmack007]

I’m a non pilot, but I can talk like a pilot, and name hundreds of parts on the plane, plus know what they are doing. Some people are just students of life, if doing something that interest them. I would like to be a pilot, but being blind in one eye and color blind in the other, it is frowned upon. Plus, this guy enjoyed flying too, he sat right seat on many flights. Anyone with half a brain would pick up some knowledge.

[@JasonFlorida]

What a very well done, amazing story. I really enjoy all of your videos. The only thing I wish for is more videos. Great job!

[@joshuabrunetti2001]

hot damn it's N559DW all over again. glad everyone survived this time around. Nice flyin, Darren

[@davidoleary8301]

AMAZING story. Bravo ATC and Darren!

[@silentblackhole]

What a great outcome of a very dangerous situation. Well done to all involved!

[@Alaska-jp8qk]

Great video with a great outcome. I love your videos and always learn something new to improve my flight safety.

[@jmdiehl]

Great video - Lots of lessons for the air traffic controllers, the incapacitated pilot, and the non-pilot rescue airman

[@smaze1782]

I wonder why the autopilot wasn’t on while in cruise. Amazing job by the “non-pilot”. He handled it like a pro.

[@AirSafetyInstitute]

According to Ken, when the incident began the autopilot was on. However, Darren and Russ accidentally shut off the autopilot when they removed Ken from his seat.

[@tbas8741]

Very easy to bump the control yoke hard enough when something like that happens to trigger the auto pilot to auto disconnect and many are designed to. also the button itself its easily bumped in chaos.

[@TacoMyrick]

Glad hes ok. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@KEITHGEE1000]

An amazing story! More evidence if you ever need it of how aviation is one big family looking after each other. Great Team effort.

[@patrickunderwood5662]

Wonderful, so happy everyone is okay. But what was the medical issue? Strange that you didn’t explain that.

[@exparrot9074]

Amazing job by the controllers and the impromptu pilot getting down safely. 295 knots in a Caravan is INSANE. Speaks volumes to the durability of the airframe. I can't believe there was no structural failure.

[@BobbyGeneric145]

Its physically impossible.

[@Dg-zj6jo]

you got picked because you were the best sir,, brilliant cool non pilot and brilliant ATC

[@steveurkel1487]

Every pilot I've ever met is incredibly unique.

[@MrAdamNTProtester]

Everyone involved should be lauded >>> awesome high character individuals- every single one of them- hats off!

[@tonyharnett3169]

Brilliant Story ... Bravo! 👏👏👏

[@Howardduff-dd5hf]

I look forward to these video!! Keep up the great work!

[@waldopepper1]

Hip Hip to Chip and Bobby on your award. Job well done fellas. Tally Ho!

[@cuz129]

It's nice to see a flight video where everyone comes out ok!

[@J.P.Moriarty]

Great, great story with a fantastic outcome. Really shows the value of paying attention as a passenger in general aviation settings. Be curious. You never know when you might need to have an understanding of avionics, flight controls, altitude, speed, pedals, and how to communicate with ATC.

[@AV8RMike]

What an incredible story!

[@EDcase1]

Well done to all involved. I think the key to this is stay calm and make small changes/movements of the controls.

[@VodkaFanClub]

Great people at the good place and time. Hats off to All involved!

[@saldun2603]

Thinking of the Institutes families and friends have solace and comfort through these times. Blue Skies

[@californiadreamin8423]

Inspirational.

[@billfajack2303]

I like stories like that. Plz produce more Archie? Award stories.

[@vladimirvlasov4360]

Darren is a natural, geez Louise, if anyone should get a licence it's him.

[@RoamingAdhocrat]

hmm, so there's a fringe benefit of ensuring anyone searching for your aircraft's registration finds clear recent photos of the panel

[@BucketLife]

I'm curious now what the medical situation was. If it's something avoidable that we could all learn from.

[@ThePwig]

It's great to see the pilot who was unconscious recovered completely.

[@mobius-1503]

Don't give up, fight to the bitter end.

[@FranksMSFlightSimulator]

Always, as the poms were advised in WW2, KEEP CALM & CARRY ON! Cheers.

[@TrwUniversity]

It’s the little convos that saves lives

[@QuaxC42]

Wonderful story , with an good outcome 👍👍😎😎

[@christopherbrooks4978]

Iam glad everyone is alright. Iam sure his medical is pulled?

[@ellenorbjornsdottir1166]

Hope Ken's doing well. Can't blame Darren for declining the interview - would've wanted to hear it, but he's probably already been "all interviewed out".

[@Iceking007]

Curious what the medical problem was, perhaps a stroke? That was purely amazing, the outcome of this event.

[@michaelobrien5891]

The person managing this channel or whatnot, said in another comment thread that it was an _aortic aneurysm_ that he has since fully recovered from.

[@LimaFoxtrot]

@@michaelobrien5891 that's interesting...the headache points to a stroke or a brain aneurysm. I wouldn't have necessarily thought auortic aneurysm.

[@toddb930]

What a great story. Ill bet Darren has watched a few Air Safety Institute videos.

[@scottamolinari]

What was the medical condition that caused the pain and blackout?

[@flyingmonkeyp00]

Great job by everyone involved! Hehe, when ATC said "pull all the levers back" I was like wait a minute! I hope he did them in the correct order 😅

[@jimmydulin928]

Good job guys. I wonder about dynamic neutral stability in the initial dive. Was Ken out and on the controls enough to overcome the desire of the airplane, without a pilot, to return dynamically to trimmed airspeed?

[@josephliptak]

So why did the pilot black out?

[@Henipah]

He had an aortic dissection, a tear in the wall of the main artery leading from the heart to the body. It’s an extremely deadly condition so he’s very lucky to have survived without serious effects.

[@valberlin9239]

I remember this incident. They landed at my home (PBIA). Rumor is that Darren DID have some flying experience, albeit not a pilot.

[@Gurumeierhans]

Yeah i suppose some kind of flight sim experience i think. "Regular" people dont really know where to get speed, rate of descend etc.

[@valberlin9239]

@@Gurumeierhans Also, he greased a near- perfect landing. The video is available online somewhere. That's not possible with zero knowledge and/or experience.

[@Milkmans_Son]

@@Gurumeierhans "Regular" people don't put on a headset and sit next to the pilot on a regular basis, now do they. The same group made the same trip in the same airplane on a regular basis. They discussed things like airspeed. They also probably heard the pilot make every radio call required for that trip 100 times over... how the hell could they not get the comms right? Why is convincing everyone that they are lying so important to you? It's not a good look.

[@Milkmans_Son]

@@valberlin9239 what if he had some knowledge and somebody talking him down? Could he maybe do it then, Maverick?

[@scottmoseley5122]

I hadn't heard that part before about Darren being warned of overspeed a day before the the flight. Very cool under pressure. What was medically wrong with Ken?

[@kennyw871]

HIPAA, but it's a great question were all wondering about.

[@Maciej-Komosinski]

Aortic aneurysm with full recovery later. Source: Air Safety Institute's answer in another thread.

[@jhopkins213]

@@kennyw871 What about HIPAA?

[@Warguello5113]

Biggest words mentioned “dont give up. Stay calm. Fight till the end” Remember this for any in-flight emergency. It goes back to the old saying-“Aviate, Navigate, Communicate“ Most emergencies you hear pilots jump on the coms to declare the emergency. You have to take care of yourself first. Breath. Fly the airplane. When things are under control, find somewhere to land immediately. Then declare the emergency.

[@mrjjman2010]

Composure is a skill!

[@CCitis]

Anything in life tbh

[@JCsaves333]

Excellent advice and if you are preparing yourself mentally for every possible situation you can get into on each flight and what to do to get out alive. Chances are you will get out alive. Panic comes from not ever thinking about a successful outcome from the emergency situation.

[@bartofilms]

Wow. Amazing Story. Amazing ATC, Amazing non-Pilot saving the Cessna and all aboard. So this appears to have been a stroke. What is the approx. date of event and at what Alt. when stroke onset occurred?

[@kallen5137]

It was May10,2022 and I was descending from 12,000 to 10,000

[@sethcorbin8663]

What about Darren?? Why isn’t he interviewed as well?!

[@jeffhiew5795]

Darren sat behind the pilot, how did he gain control of the aircraft when it dive towards the ground? IIRC, the co pilot seat was occupied by "The Owner"

[@matthewmillar3804]

It's not my business, but I'd be really curious as to what the pain in the side of Ken's head was. Stroke? Anurism? Tumour? Regardless, I'm glad he's ok. Kudos to everyone involved.

[@Riverrockphotos]

Aortic aneurysm.

[@Strathclydegamer]

Aneurysm, but not where you’d expect. Unusual presentation for a AAA, to have the only symptom be sudden onset intense headache. AOPA have confirmed he’s back flying again now, which is fantastic!

[@Henipah]

@@Strathclydegamerfrom other sources it was apparently a type A aortic dissection, which fits the symptoms better. Lucky escape.

[@michaelpelham8755]

What was tge medical issue?

[@DonaldMcKay3768]

Great story with several heroes! I'm guessing the pilot had a stroke. He is doubly lucky to be alive because he couldn't have gotten medical attention that soon after the medical incident. It must have taken at least 20 minutes to turn around, fly back to the coast, descend, and maneuver for an orderly landing. But the pilot not only lived but seemed fully recovered in the interview. I'm sure the controller had his heart in his mouth when the image disappeared from the radar screen, but of course it's common to lose radar contact as you approach the ground. I'm amazed they kept a good signal down to 300 AGL.

[@pharmakon6]

What a wonderful story. Glad everyone made it out okay. You can't help but chuckle though. The national news made it sound like this guy had never even seen a general aviation airplane. But his radio calls start with the N number. Talking about airspeed, rate of descent, and altitude like a pro. Pulled the thing out of a dive smoothly and grease the landing. Now clearly the guy wasn't a licensed pilot but word is he had lots of time sitting right seat with his buddy flying back and forth across the ocean to the Bahamas. Like he didn't have hours upon hours to get a little hand flying in (who doesn't love letting their non-pilot buddies grab the yolk and do a little flying), ask a million questions about all the controls, and generally have way more sense than your average off the street bumpkin. Hell of an accomplishment, but it's a shame some of those key facts were sort of left out because of the more sensationalistic narrative. Student pilots with multiple lessons under their belt would be hard pressed to be that calm on the radios, be spouting off the facts about the aircrafts state of flight, call out and fly headings, and grease a landing. Once again glad all of the three amigos are okay.

[@grayisgood]

Assuming you mean a ruptured aortic aneurysm, it would not have caused pain in his head and he would not have survived. Just an aortic aneurysm, not ruptured, would still not have caused pain in his head or any other symptoms. People have them for years unknowingly before they suddenly rupture and kill them without warning.

[@ganthrithor]

Someone send Darren his pilot's license: the fact that he doesn't have one is clearly a mistake. Dude sounds better on the radio and handles business better than half the pilots at my home field :D What an absolute gangster.

[@chrism3872]

Was it a stroke? that is one of the things that worries me as I get older...

[@Strathclydegamer]

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

[@daveinthewildOG]

Amazing story. It had so many lessons in it actually. I think the one thing I took away was if you're going to be flying and you're the only one who actually is a pilot, you should at least have a familiarity conversation with another person or people who may be faced with dealing with the airplane if you're not conscious. It's a strange thing to think of, but it was critical Darren had heard enough, and thought enough, to understand to not kill them by "over" responding. It's not a video game. And to the general public who have no experience actually controlling a plane, it might be treated that way.

[@teflonsean7677]

Well if Darren ever decides to get his PPL he can take comfort in being able to solo before his first lesson.😜

[@MeaHeaR]

what hapenning did he be haved haert attcks ???

[@jerryogstad688]

I think you need to thank JESUS .. Iam 82 and learned to fly the bsck country in Idahon and Alaska piolet Had some closs calls AND I KNOW GOD has kept me safe . sorry iam not preaching to you but please just think about it thanks

[@takl23]

He’s back flying but don’t let the FAA know you were sad once when you were 15.

[@wagg8989]

I heard some of the radio transmissions a while back and have serious doubts that Darren didn’t have a bunch of stick time.

[@Milkmans_Son]

I have serious doubts about your serious doubts. I'll elaborate if you will.

[@wagg8989]

Go for it. I’m all ears.

[@Milkmans_Son]

@@wagg8989 Well I can't shoot something down that you refuse to launch, now can I.

[@wagg8989]

@@Milkmans_Son sorry, I read your reply incorrectly. I don’t recall specifically all of his transmissions, but as the ATC controller mentioned, Darren communicated in a way that was consistent with how well many PPs do. I specifically recall him telling ATC he was passing through a certain altitude and leveling off at another. There were other communications he made that seemed very suspect that he had no training. Lastly, his landing was just a tad too good for someone with no training. So my opinion is that he had some time on the stick whether formal or informal. My belief is that this whole incident is somewhat embellished. But that’s only my opinion.

[@kallen5137]

@@wagg8989I can assure you that the story is completely accurate and true.

[@CCitis]

Anyone know what happened to the pilot? Was it a stroke?

[@Strathclydegamer]

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

[@Forwardoperationbase]

Wow

[@_Joy_Unleashed]

Are the results of his medical emergency private? Six days in the ICU and no answers? Did I miss something? Amazing landing. We all have the capability!

[@kallen5137]

Not private, been all over the media. I had an aortic aneurysm dissection which was completely unexpected. Thanks

[@JoeKyser]

ya baby

[@hotsoup1001]

Is it any wonder he didn't want to do interviews anymore? Look at some of the incredibly toxic comments here. There are literally people who are enraged that others dare to praise his actions because it's somehow cheating that he has friends with their own airplanes that let him sit right-seat and observe. It's honestly frightening to see the level of vitriol some people have.

[@thomashind4835]

I agree with you, but the anger and frustration is more because Darren is being deceptive about how much experience he had.

[@hotsoup1001]

@thomashind4835 no, the anger and frustration is because of fanboys from a certain aviation KZbinr who started this whole thing.

[@HeroMan380]

It seems like this guy has previous aviation experience or just some exposure to it. Theres no way he had absolutely no idea about an airplane. Nevertheless he did a great job

[@JosephSzarmachJr]

Not cool! Why didn't he go unconscious? I thought perhaps carbon monoxide. But clearly not because he was in ICU for so long. Would be nice if they explained it.

[@themalacast]

Neither of these is relevant to telling the story of how a plane got to the ground. Nevertheless, they are frustrating omissions: 1) Should include, with the benefit of hindsight what the medical emergency was. Come on. Stroke I assume? 2) Should include something about the pilot's recovery. Can he fly now? Is he impaired?

[@AirSafetyInstitute]

This question has been answered in previous comments. Ken suffered an aortic aneurysm. Thankfully, he’s since fully recovered and is now back to flying.

[@themalacast]

I was offering feedback with respect to the video itself. I do appreciate you offering the update in the comments however!@@AirSafetyInstitute

[@markfischer965]

Never take yourself out of the fight. God may take you out(dead or unconscious) but your should never choose to give up.

[@tomgunn8004]

i think the guy must have had at least a basic understanding about flying.

[@topofthegreen]

this illustrates why older pilots should not fly.

[@sludge8506]

Tell us, champ, what the age limit should be.

[@mikefromflorida8357]

Great story, but please stop calling advanced life support rescue units ambulances.

[@Mobev1]

This is why I always take shots of whiskey every 45 minutes to avoid a sroke

[@bestboy138]

He passed out because he was tired and old.