Small plane lands itself after mid-air emergency in first-ever use of automated aviation tech
A twin‑engine turboprop from Colorado’s Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport made headlines on Saturday after it landed itself on a short runway, thanks to an on‑board automated system.
The airplane, a Beechcraft Super King Air 200 flown by Buffalo River Aviation of Arkansas, was cruising roughly 23,000 feet near Aspen when a sudden loss of cabin pressurization forced the crew into a high‑altitude emergency. Instead of attempting a manual recovery, the two pilots relinquished control to the Garmin G3000 Autoland feature, which automatically selected the nearest suitable airport, notified air traffic control, and guided the aircraft safely to the ground.
The plane touched down, slowed to a stop, and shut its engines on the runway without any damage or injuries. Early chatter on the internet suggested the pilots might have been incapacitated, but the operator later clarified that both crew members remained conscious and able to fly the plane.
“Choosing the automated solution in that situation reduced the risk to everyone on board,” the company said.
Garmin’s Autoland system was first rolled out in 2019 and has since earned top safety honors. It evaluates terrain, weather, fuel reserves, runway length, and aircraft performance to determine the safest destination and can take full control if the crew is unable to operate the plane.
This incident marks the first time the system has been confirmed in action during an actual in‑flight emergency. Federal aviation regulators are currently reviewing the event as part of routine post‑emergency procedures.
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