NEW: A plane has landed itself using “Autoland” at the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport near Denver, becoming the first emergency autoland.
According to the FAA, two people were on board when the pilot lost communication with air traffic control.
The twin-engine Beechcraft… pic.twitter.com/UejG80whSd
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 24, 2025
NEW: A plane has landed itself using “Autoland” at the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport near Denver, becoming the first emergency autoland.
According to the FAA, two people were on board when the pilot lost communication with air traffic control.
The twin-engine Beechcraft Super King Air has Garmin’s Autoland, which then kicked into action.
Buffalo River Aviation says the aircraft “experienced a rapid, uncommanded loss of pressurization.”
The pilots put on oxygen masks and the Autoland system “automatically engaged” and started communicating with ATC, telling them it would be landing at the nearest airport.
The system told ATC its aircraft number and “pilot incapacitation.”
The plane landed safely. No one was injured.