Throughout the week, our ACC Team searches through emails and news articles looking for someone who deserves to be the Hero of the Week… Find out how you can nominate a Hero of the Week at the bottom of the page.
Darren Harrison with no expertise flying an airplane had to do just that after the pilot became incapacitated.
Darren was flying home from the Bahamas on a single-engine Cessna 208 when the pilot passed out. Darren grabbed the controls and used the radio control system to ask for help and explain the situation – that’s when Robert Morgan, an air traffic controller, heard the call.
He quickly and calmly gave Darren instructions to grab the wheel and push slightly forward to bring the plane down for a landing. He guided him to a Palm Beach, Florida, runway because it had the biggest runway which means that it was the biggest target to aim for.
Darren landed the plane without incident. Once the plane was on the ground, he had to ask, “How do I stop this thing?” He got her stopped and shut down and all were okay.
For more, check out this story as covered by CBS News.
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Kix’s Response:
Both Darren and Robert call each other heroes in this situation, and I’d say we agree! We’re happy to recognize them both as our ACC Heroes of the Week.
Nominate a Hero of the Week
Now, we want to know who has made a difference in your life. Nominate a local firefighter, police officer, EMT or someone who is serving our country in the military. It could even be a neighbor, family member or friend who lent a crucial helping hand. Let us know all about the person who you feel is a real life hero by emailing us here and please feel free to send us a picture!