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Blind pilot guided to land by RAF Blind pilot guided to land by RAF
(10 minutes later)
A pilot who suddenly went blind while flying his plane at 15,000ft was guided in to land by an RAF plane.A pilot who suddenly went blind while flying his plane at 15,000ft was guided in to land by an RAF plane.
A team was scrambled from the RAF base at Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire to help stricken pilot Jim O'Neill.A team was scrambled from the RAF base at Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire to help stricken pilot Jim O'Neill.
He had taken a two-seater Cessna plane up from Prestwick airport in Scotland but in mid-flight suffered a medical condition that left him blind. He was flying a two-seater Cessna plane from Prestwick airport in Scotland to Colchester, Essex, when a medical condition caused him to go blind.
The RAF jet flew alongside Mr O'Neill and the crew shepherded him to their base with instructions over the radio.The RAF jet flew alongside Mr O'Neill and the crew shepherded him to their base with instructions over the radio.
Mr O'Neill had taken off from Prestwick airport and was heading to Colchester, Essex, when disaster struck last Friday. Mr O'Neill sent a mayday alert and attempted to land his plane near Full Sutton Airfield near York when disaster struck on Friday.
Shepherding aircraft in this way is something we do from time to time, but this is a very strange case Gp Capt Mark HopkinsShepherding aircraft in this way is something we do from time to time, but this is a very strange case Gp Capt Mark Hopkins
Before the Tucano T1 jet reached him, air traffic controllers tried to guide him to Full Sutton airfield near York but it proved impossible to land the Cessna safely. Despite the efforts of air traffic controllers he was unable to land the plane safely and the Tucano T1 jet was sent to help him.
Station Commander at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, Gp Capt Mark Hopkins, said: "The Royal Air Force has the best pilots and air traffic controllers in the world. This team effort from Linton-On-Ouse lives up to that reputation.Station Commander at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, Gp Capt Mark Hopkins, said: "The Royal Air Force has the best pilots and air traffic controllers in the world. This team effort from Linton-On-Ouse lives up to that reputation.
"Shepherding aircraft in this way is something we do from time to time, but this is a very strange case."Shepherding aircraft in this way is something we do from time to time, but this is a very strange case.
"I'm proud we could get him to the ground safely.""I'm proud we could get him to the ground safely."
Mr O'Neill was checked over by RAF medics and transferred to hospital where he is currently being treated.Mr O'Neill was checked over by RAF medics and transferred to hospital where he is currently being treated.