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| Blind pilot guided to land by RAF | Blind pilot guided to land by RAF |
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| A pilot who suddenly went blind while flying his plane at 15,000ft (4,572m) was guided in to land by an RAF plane. | A pilot who suddenly went blind while flying his plane at 15,000ft (4,572m) was guided in to land by an RAF plane. |
| A plane was scrambled from the RAF base at Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire to help stricken pilot Jim O'Neill, 65. | A plane was scrambled from the RAF base at Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire to help stricken pilot Jim O'Neill, 65. |
| He was flying a two-seater Cessna aircraft from Prestwick airport in Scotland to Colchester, Essex, when he suffered a stroke and lost his sight. | He was flying a two-seater Cessna aircraft from Prestwick airport in Scotland to Colchester, Essex, when he suffered a stroke and lost his sight. |
| The RAF plane flew alongside Mr O'Neill and the pilot shepherded him to the base with instructions over the radio. | The RAF plane flew alongside Mr O'Neill and the pilot shepherded him to the base with instructions over the radio. |
| Mr O'Neill, who has 18 years' flying experience, was overhead at RAF Leeming in Northallerton when he encountered difficulty and sent a mayday alert last Friday. | Mr O'Neill, who has 18 years' flying experience, was overhead at RAF Leeming in Northallerton when he encountered difficulty and sent a mayday alert last Friday. |
| Operations commanding officer at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, Wing Cdr Andy Hynd, said: "At first he believed he was being blinded by sunlight because he had difficulty seeing his instruments and so he declared an emergency. | Operations commanding officer at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, Wing Cdr Andy Hynd, said: "At first he believed he was being blinded by sunlight because he had difficulty seeing his instruments and so he declared an emergency. |
| Douglas O'Neill says his father saw the dials shining brightly before he lost his sight | |
| "He was handed over to us from Leeming and when we spoke to him he said he was happy to continue flying. | "He was handed over to us from Leeming and when we spoke to him he said he was happy to continue flying. |
| "However, air traffic control noticed his aircraft was descending and turning and he was asked again whether he wanted to continue at which point he said no." | "However, air traffic control noticed his aircraft was descending and turning and he was asked again whether he wanted to continue at which point he said no." |
| Despite air traffic controllers' efforts, Mr O'Neill was unable to land the plane at nearby Full Sutton Airfield near York and was directed to RAF Linton-on-Ouse. | Despite air traffic controllers' efforts, Mr O'Neill was unable to land the plane at nearby Full Sutton Airfield near York and was directed to RAF Linton-on-Ouse. |
| Mr Hynd said: "He still couldn't see the runway here and he was starting to get distressed so we thought it was best to send a plane to him." | Mr Hynd said: "He still couldn't see the runway here and he was starting to get distressed so we thought it was best to send a plane to him." |
| Wing Cdr Paul Gerrard, chief flying instructor, flew his Tucano T1 about 50m next to the Cessna to bring Mr O'Neill safely down. | Wing Cdr Paul Gerrard, chief flying instructor, flew his Tucano T1 about 50m next to the Cessna to bring Mr O'Neill safely down. |
| Mr Hynd said: "He used his voice to guide him [Mr O'Neill] down by telling him to turn left and right, to lower the plane and to do his pre-landing checks. | Mr Hynd said: "He used his voice to guide him [Mr O'Neill] down by telling him to turn left and right, to lower the plane and to do his pre-landing checks. |
| Radar controller Sgt Richard Eggleton helped guide Mr O'Neill to safety | |
| "At very short range he still couldn't see the runway and it was only at the last minute that he could. He landed about halfway down and came to a halt just at the end. | "At very short range he still couldn't see the runway and it was only at the last minute that he could. He landed about halfway down and came to a halt just at the end. |
| "The RAF routinely practises shepherding but we are usually shepherding lost aircraft, we are not used to shepherding blind pilots, which is what makes this amazing. | "The RAF routinely practises shepherding but we are usually shepherding lost aircraft, we are not used to shepherding blind pilots, which is what makes this amazing. |
| "It was a fantastic team effort from all those involved and we're proud that we could get him to the ground safely." | "It was a fantastic team effort from all those involved and we're proud that we could get him to the ground safely." |
| Mr O'Neill was checked over by RAF medics before being transferred to Queen's Hospital in Romford, Essex. | Mr O'Neill was checked over by RAF medics before being transferred to Queen's Hospital in Romford, Essex. |