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Plane Lands Itself in First Emergency Autoland
24 Dec
Summary
- An airplane successfully executed an automatic landing during an in-flight emergency.
- Two individuals onboard emerged unharmed from the Beechcraft Super King Air 200.
- The Garmin Autoland system engaged automatically due to rapid loss of cabin pressurization.
An airplane has achieved a historic first by automatically landing itself during an in-flight emergency, as confirmed by its manufacturer. The Beechcraft Super King Air 200, carrying two individuals, landed safely at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport near Denver.
The incident involved an uncommanded loss of cabin pressurization, prompting the pilots to don oxygen masks. Garmin's Autoland system, installed on approximately 1,700 aircraft, automatically activated when cabin altitude exceeded safe levels. The pilots then chose to allow the system to complete the landing.
While reports of pilot incapacitation were clarified as automated system communication, the event highlights the growing capabilities of autonomous flight technology. The Federal Aviation Administration is currently investigating this unprecedented automatic landing.
