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Quote:
Pilot who went blind mid-air is talked through safe landing by crew of scrambled RAF plane
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 4:26 PM on 07th November 2008
Jim O'Neill: Guided to safety
A pilot who lost his sight while flying a light aircraft back from a family holiday was guided to a safe landing by the crew of an RAF plane sent to his aid.
Brave Jim O'Neill was taking the two-seat Cessna from Scotland to Essex, when he was suddenly blinded over North Yorkshire after suffering what is believed to be a stroke mid-flight.
Blood at the back of his head put pressure on his optic nerves, immediately blinding him.
Mr. O'Neill put out a mayday call and, with advice from air traffic controllers over his radio, attempted to land the small plane.
However, he couldn't complete the delicate maneuver at Full Sutton Airfield near York.
A RAF team from nearby Linton-on-Ouse was scrambled and a Tucano T1 training aircraft took off to find the aircraft and guided the stricken pilot to the ground.
On the fourth attempt he managed to land the Cessna - and escaped without so much as a scratch.
The 65-year-old, with 18 years' flying experience, was taken to York Hospital before being transferred to Queen's Hospital in Romford, Essex.
Doctors expect him to regain his sight and hope he will make a full recovery.
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