The novice pilot miraculously landed the damaged plane, and the dramatic moment was caught on video – the participants in the events could not hold back their tears.
According to the New York Post, 21-year-old Michigan pilot Taylor Hash experienced a flight she will remember for a lifetime.
“The incident occurred during the girl’s third solo flight: the plane lost one of the front wheels during takeoff. Fortunately, another pilot, Chris Yates, noticed the missing part in time. An experienced pilot immediately alerted the control tower of the Oakland County International Airport and contacted Hash,” – writes the publication.
He talked to the girl to calm her down and save her life. In the video, you can hear the young pilot’s voice trembling.
“Taylor, this is Chris. My daughter’s name is Taylor and I taught her to fly! We’ll be fine,” Yates said on the radio, WXYZ reported.
The tense moment with the emergency landing was caught on video: thanks to the support and instruction of a senior comrade, Hash managed to land the plane without much damage.
“Proud of you, girl,” Yeats said as Hash’s plane drove down the runway.
Taylor herself admitted that Yeats’ kind words helped her to accomplish the miracle, and called the incident the “most important landing of her career.” According to the young pilot, “anything could have happened”, because the plane could land off the runway or rollover.
“Even those who have 57 hours in flight behind them are not capable of flying the plane like that,” Yeats praised his new protégé.
According to WXYZ, when the plane landed, Yates and Hash were overwhelmed with tears. According to a local TV channel, the pilots are planning a joint flight to Las Vegas at the end of April.