What will happen if the pilot had a heart attack when the plane is in mid-air?
Thank you, Doctor JB Lim, for this very interesting question which I have answered many times in my Blog.
You’re right that such a scenario is extremely rare, almost to the point of being hypothetical.
First, if the captain becomes incapacitated, the first officer immediately takes control. Airlines train for this regularly in the simulator.
If, by an even more unlikely coincidence, both pilots become incapacitated, several layers of safety still come into play:
The autopilot will keep the aircraft stable.
Modern airliners can cruise safely for hours on autopilot. There is no danger of the aircraft suddenly diving or losing control.
The cabin crew are trained for pilot incapacitation
They can enter the cockpit, secure the pilots, administer CPR or first aid. However they are not trained to handle the radio or fly the planes!
See one article in my blog here – “What happens when a pilot faints during a flight?” view here
https://askcaptainlim.com/what-happens-when-a-pilot-faints-during-a-flight/
Many modern airliners can land automatically.
Contrary to common belief, most Airbus and Boeing aircraft are capable of a fully automatic landing (“autoland”) provided the destination airport has the correct equipment (CAT III ILS).
So, in the absolute worst-case scenario, I have further written 2 articles on the possible scenarios when both the captain or copilot are incapacitated (your follow up question). See below:
“Could an Untrained Passenger Land an Airliner?”
This question often pops up in movies, online forums, and even casual conversations among passengers: could someone with no flying experience land a commercial airliner if the pilots were incapacitated?
The short answer is—almost certainly not. For someone who has never flown before, the chances of safely landing a jetliner are close to zero. The complexity of modern aircraft, the speed at which decisions must be made, and the sheer physical and mental demands of the task make it nearly impossible.
However, if the passenger happens to be a general aviation enthusiast, a computer geek who’s spent hours on Microsoft Flight Simulator, or a licensed pilot—even one on vacation—the odds improve. And if the aircraft is a small, single-engine plane rather than a jetliner, there’s even more hope.
There was a real-life example on August 7, 2000, when the pilot of a single-engine aircraft collapsed mid-flight. A passenger, with no formal training, was talked down by an airborne flight instructor and landed the plane safely. Light aircraft are more forgiving. They respond quickly to control inputs and are easier to stabilize. The basic rule is simple: pitch controls speed, and power controls altitude. If your speed drops, you push the nose down. If you’re too low, you add power. These instructions can be relayed over the radio by a qualified pilot.
But jetliners are a different story. Their engines are powerful, and their mass creates enormous inertia. Speed control is far more complex. A simple pitch adjustment won’t give you the speed you need. If you pitch down too much, you’ll lose altitude rapidly—and if you’re close to the ground, that could be fatal.
In a small plane, you can correct your alignment with the runway even at the last moment. But in an airliner, you need to be stabilized well before reaching the runway threshold. Heavy aircraft don’t respond quickly, and a poorly executed approach can’t be salvaged at the last second. Power adjustments must be precise, and that’s not something a layman can manage under pressure.
The best-case scenario would be a passenger who is a trained pilot—ideally rated on that specific aircraft type. Second best would be someone with basic flying knowledge who can follow instructions from air traffic control or another pilot via radio. In such cases, the goal would be to use the autopilot to guide the aircraft onto a long final approach using a Category III ILS (Instrument Landing System), allowing for a successful auto-landing.
After touchdown, the passenger would need to retard the thrust levers, disconnect the autopilot, and monitor the aircraft’s deceleration. Most modern jets have auto-brakes, so manual braking might only be needed below 60 knots. But even this requires familiarity with the cockpit layout and systems.
A non-pilot wouldn’t know how to operate the radios, navigate the flight management computer, or even interpret basic instrument readings. That’s why, to date, no untrained passenger has ever landed a commercial airliner. Thankfully, such a situation has never occurred.
Still, the idea fascinates people. It’s a scenario that captures the imagination—and reminds us just how much skill and training go into every safe landing.
Here is another similar question, “Can Anyone Actually Be Talked Through Landing a Plane in an Emergency?”
This question echoes the earlier one but is explored here through a more detailed and realistic lens. It’s a scenario often dramatized in films: a passenger with no flying experience is talked down over the radio to land a commercial jet after both pilots become incapacitated. But how plausible is this in real life?
Let’s explore four possible scenarios using the Airbus A380 as an example.
Scenario 1 – You’re a Regular Passenger
If you’ve never flown a plane before, the odds are stacked against you. Unlike driving a car, flying a jetliner involves complex systems, procedures, and split-second decisions. You’d need to know how to operate the radios, tune to the correct frequency, and communicate clearly with air traffic control. Without prior knowledge, even finding the right buttons would be a challenge. In such a case, unless you can reach a qualified pilot or instructor, the situation would be dire.
Scenario 2 – You’re a Flight Simulator Enthusiast
If you’ve spent hours flying an A380 on Microsoft Flight Simulator, you might have a fighting chance. You’d be familiar with cockpit layouts, autopilot systems, and basic flight procedures. With calm nerves and step-by-step guidance from a qualified instructor over the radio, you could potentially engage the autopilot and perform an auto-land on a runway equipped with an Instrument Landing System (ILS). But even then, the margin for error is razor-thin.
Scenario 3 – You’re a Novice Private Pilot
If you hold a private pilot license and have flown single-engine aircraft, you’d understand aviation terminology and basic flight dynamics. You’d be better equipped to follow instructions, operate radios, and manage the aircraft’s systems. However, manually flying an A380 is a different beast. The side-stick controls are sensitive, and the aircraft’s systems are complex. Even experienced pilots undergo extensive simulator training before flying such jets. Attempting to hand-fly the plane without proper training would be extremely risky.
Scenario 4 – An Off-Duty Pilot Is Onboard
This is the best-case scenario. While it’s rare for both pilots to become incapacitated, it has happened—most notably in the Helios Airways disaster. On long-haul flights, airlines typically roster four pilots, reducing the risk. But on short-haul flights with only a captain and first officer, a dual incapacitation could pose serious problems.
In such cases, flight attendants may page for any off-duty pilots onboard. If one is present and qualified on the aircraft type, they could take over without assistance. If not, they could still be talked down with guidance from ground control. Their training and familiarity with aviation systems would make a successful landing far more likely.
Interestingly, there have been cases where non-pilots landed small aircraft after the pilot became incapacitated. But no untrained passenger has ever landed a commercial airliner. Still, if you’re a flight sim enthusiast, your hobby might just come in handy—though we all hope you’ll never need to test it.
Hope this helps to answer your questions