A flight instructor jumped to his death from a plane midair over North Carolina, leaving a student pilot to land the aircraft alone, authorities said.
Incident details
The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon when the instructor, identified as a 29-year-old man, exited the aircraft at an altitude of approximately 4,000 feet near the town of Lumberton. The student pilot, whose name has not been released, managed to take control of the plane and land it safely at a nearby airport.
According to the Robeson County Sheriff's Office, the instructor's body was found in a field with a parachute that did not deploy. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident.
Student pilot's actions
The student pilot, who was alone in the cockpit after the instructor jumped, contacted air traffic control and declared an emergency. Controllers guided the student to a safe landing at the Lumberton Regional Airport. No injuries were reported on the ground.
“The student pilot did an incredible job under extremely difficult circumstances,” said Sheriff Burnis Wilkins. “We are thankful that no one else was hurt.”
Investigation underway
The NTSB has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the incident. Authorities are looking into the instructor's background and any possible motives for his actions. The instructor had been employed by a flight school at the Lumberton airport for about two years.
“This is a tragic event, and our thoughts are with the families involved,” said an FAA spokesperson. “We will work closely with the NTSB to determine what happened.”
Community reaction
The flight school where the instructor worked released a statement expressing shock and sadness. “We are devastated by this loss and are cooperating fully with authorities,” the statement said. “Our priority is the well-being of our students and staff.”
The incident has raised questions about safety protocols for flight training. Experts say that while such events are extremely rare, they highlight the importance of emergency training for student pilots.
