New pilot glides plane to safety after passenger flips switches, turns off engine
A newly qualified pilot is being hailed a hero in Australia for safely landing a small plane after fighting off an elderly passenger who tried to grab the controls and cut off the engine.
Police will be talking to the 82-year-old after the pilot made an emergency mayday call over New South Wales.
Acting Inspector Gareth Smith said the elderly man had booked the flight from Bankstown to Cowra for a business trip
Sky's Jonathan Samuels in Sydney reports: "This passenger suddenly reached forward, flipped switches and turned the engine off.
"This young pilot remarkably wrestled the man, pushed him back into his seat and restrained him before managing to glide the plane to safety."
It is understood the pilot landed the Beechcraft Duchess aircraft in a paddock.
