Untrained woman lands plane after pilot’s husband suffers heart attack during flight

A woman with no formal flight training successfully landed a private plane after her pilot husband suffered a heart attack in mid-air.

The Los Angeles Times reports that Yvonne Kinane-Wells, 69, and her husband Eliot Alper, 78, were aboard a twin-engine Beechcraft King Air 90 when the incident occurred on October 7, 2024. The couple flew from Henderson, Nevada, to Monterey, California. However, their trip took a terrible turn when Alper experienced a serious medical emergency while piloting the plane.

How the woman landed the plane without pilot training

When her husband became incapacitated, Kinane-Wells found herself in an unimaginable situation. With no prior flying experience, she suddenly found herself responsible for the safety of herself and her ailing spouse. What followed was a demonstration of cooperation between the inexperienced Kinane-Wells and the experienced air traffic controllers. Audio recordings obtained by Inside Edition show the intense communication that took place.

The controllers gave step-by-step instructions and guided Kinane-Wells on important aspects such as maintaining altitude and changing course. As the emergency progressed, it became clear that the original flight plan had to be changed. Air traffic control instructed Kinane-Wells to divert the plane to Meadows Field Airport in Bakersfield, California. At 1:40 p.m., Kinane-Wells successfully landed the plane at Meadows Field Airport against all odds.

The seriousness of the situation became clear when emergency vehicles chased the plane down the 11,000-foot runway until it came to a complete stop. This incredible feat amazed even seasoned aviation professionals. Kern County Airport Director Ron Brewster told Inside Edition that this incident was “unprecedented” in his entire career.

Unfortunately, although Kinane-Wells’ heroic actions ensured a safe landing, the story doesn’t have a completely happy ending. After the emergency landing, Eliot Alper was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died.