Quantcast

Sky Industry News

Spirit Airlines Pursues Bankruptcy as a Path to Tie-Up With Frontier
American Airlines fined $50M for violating disability laws
Canada's flight attendant union applauds NDP bill to end unpaid work in the airline sector
American Airlines testing new technology that would crack down on boarding
Exciting New Airline Routes Coming to North
Another city ignores airport commission's advice, zones for housing near JWA
United shares hit pre-pandemic high after airline forecasts strong finish to 2024, plans buyback
Alaska Airlines Just Made Its Loyalty Program Even More Lucrative With New Rewards, Better Upgrades, and More
Food safety problem closes Detroit airline kitchen leaving 200 flights without meals
5 Reasons Why Kazakhstan's Air Astana Is Establishing Itself As A Key Player In Asian Aviation
JetBlue is no longer serving hot food in economy class on transatlantic flights
Video shows traveler hurl computer monitor at Frontier employees in Chicago
White House 'in touch' with airlines as hurricanes Helene, Milton spark price-gouging fears
Airline bans two items from luggage amid conflict in the Middle East
Turkish Airlines pilot dies midflight, leading to emergency landing in New York
Spirit Airlines Explores Bankruptcy Filing
Airlines turn to AI to allocate gates and cut waiting times
American Airlines Passengers Save Woman from Alleged Violent Male Companion on Flight
Garuda Indonesia and Japan Airlines (JAL) Form Joint Business Agreement — What To Know
Here's how Southwest Airlines' new seating and boarding process will work
Delta Adds New Route to Asia
Southwest Airlines will begin selling assigned seats in 2025
United Airlines Pilot Buys Passengers Pizza In Albuquerque After Flight Was Delayed 7 Hours
Czech Airlines to Cease Operations, Ending 23-Year SkyTeam Partnership
An Asian airline hopes launching one of the world's longest narrowbody routes will actually be a comfort upgrade for passengers
Airlines begin canceling flights, offering rebooking ahead of Hurricane Helene
Southwest Airlines to cut service and staffing in Atlanta to slash costs
New heights, new features: Discover Alaska’s enhanced Flight Pass subscription service
Alaska Airlines completes acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, expanding benefits and choice for travelers
American Airlines welcomes JetSMART to the award-winning AAdvantage program
Can a trained flight attendant land an airplane in an emergency
People
Webp ymhfjf407emv9o42iza31o4oyd1u
Justin Foster Private Aviation Journalist | Simple Flying

Flight attendants with flight training and a private pilot's license can potentially assist pilots in landing an aircraft during an emergency. They learn basic aircraft terminology and undergo pilot incapacitation training to safely remove ill or incapacitated pilots from their seats. If both pilots are incapacitated, flight attendants may need to communicate with air traffic control and receive guidance from a professional pilot on landing the aircraft.

Flight emergencies are rare but can occur. When one or more pilots are unable to fly the plane, cabin crew must seek assistance from fellow crew members or even passengers. A common question is whether flight attendants can land an airplane in an emergency. The answer varies depending on the individual's training.

Many flight attendants do not have interest or training in piloting, but some pursue flight training or achieve a private pilot's license, which could enable them to assist in landing the aircraft during an emergency.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

The responsibilities of a flight attendant include ensuring passenger safety and comfort, conducting pre-flight safety checks, greeting passengers, serving meals and beverages, presenting emergency equipment instructions, assisting passengers during emergencies, managing the cabin during flights, adhering to aviation regulations, and preparing incident reports.

During their training, flight attendants learn basic aircraft terminology to effectively communicate with the flight crew in emergencies. They also undertake 'pilot incapacitation training' to safely remove incapacitated pilots from their seats and assist the remaining pilot by reading checklists and using hand signals for communication.

It is not uncommon for some flight attendants to pursue pilot training while working as cabin crew. Having a private pilot's license provides basic flying knowledge that may be useful in extraordinary situations.

In cases where both pilots are lost for some reason—a highly unlikely scenario—flight attendants would need to communicate with air traffic control for guidance. There is also some capacity for using the aircraft's automatic landing capability under certain conditions.

In most real-life commercial or business aviation incidents, the remaining pilot will land the aircraft without issue but may receive help from a flight attendant if necessary. If a professional off-duty pilot is onboard, their skills will likely be utilized.

If both pilots are lost and no other option is available, a trained flight attendant could potentially take over with guidance from air traffic control or rely on auto-landing technology if available. In general aviation and smaller aircraft types, there have been incidents where passengers with little or no piloting knowledge have landed safely with outside guidance.

The approach phase involves descending towards the airport at correct rates and angles using instruments and visual cues. During touchdown, speed and altitude adjustments ensure that main wheels touch down correctly on the runway. Deceleration involves applying brakes and thrust reversers to bring the aircraft to a complete stop before reaching the end of the runway.

___

Organizations Included in this History
More News

The Airbus A321XLR is making waves in the aviation industry as a narrowbody aircraft with the capability to perform long-haul flights.

Feb 23, 2025

On February 19, 2025, a Delta Air Lines Airbus A350-900 with a special livery was seen.

Feb 23, 2025

The Diamond DA42 TwinStar, a twin-engine light aircraft manufactured by Diamond Aircraft, stands out in its class for its dual engines and safety-oriented design.

Feb 23, 2025

Etihad Airways has reported a record profit of $476 million for the year 2024, marking its highest-ever earnings.

Feb 23, 2025

Arajet, an airline based in the Dominican Republic, has announced new flight routes connecting two cities in the Dominican Republic with San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Feb 23, 2025

WestJet is set to resume flights to Amsterdam, marking a return to the Netherlands with a new approach.

Feb 23, 2025