Pilot Thought Instructor Was Pretending to Sleep During Fatal Flight Above Northern England

A shocking incident occurred on June 29, 2022, when a pilot flew around northern England with his aviation instructor, who had suffered a fatal heart attack, unbeknownst to the pilot. According to a newly published safety report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch, the pilot thought the instructor was pretending to be asleep as the pair flew a circuit above near Blackpool Airport in Lancashire, England.

The qualified pilot had asked the instructor to accompany him aboard the four-person Piper PA-28 for safety reasons during windy conditions. Prior to takeoff, the pair chatted normally while the pilot taxied the craft out to the runway.

However, during the flight, the 57-year-old senior flight instructor slumped over as if he were sleeping. The pilot thought the instructor was just joking around and continued the flight. It was only after landing on the runway with the man slumped on his shoulder that the pilot realized something was wrong.

The instructor was pronounced dead at the scene and the cause of death was later determined to be a cardiac arrest. The pilot was not identified in the report.

The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of safety protocols and procedures when flying. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch is continuing to investigate the incident and the report is expected to be released in the coming weeks.