A Beechcraft Super King Air made a historic emergency landing without any manual input from its pilots. This event took place on December 20, 2025, at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Colorado.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the aircraft lost communication with air traffic control during the incident. However, the plane safely landed, thanks to the advanced Garmin Emergency Autoland system installed onboard.
The plane was carrying only two pilots on a charter flight and no passengers. A sudden cabin pressure drop forced the pilots to don oxygen masks, prompting them to activate and maintain the Autoland system until touchdown.
FAA clarified that the Autoland system was deliberately maintained by the pilots rather than automatically taking over due to incapacitation. The initial rumors about unconscious pilots stemmed from automated voice communications the system sent to ATC during the emergency.
Garmin stated this was the first real-world, start-to-finish use of its Emergency Autoland technology since its introduction in 2019. Designed to fully control the aircraft when pilots cannot, the system handles navigation, communication, speed adjustment, and safe landing procedures autonomously.
Autoland calculates the best destination airport based on runway length, proximity, weather conditions, remaining fuel, and other safety parameters within seconds. It then guides the plane for landing, shuts down engines post-touchdown, and provides safety instructions to the crew.
Experts view this successful emergency landing as a milestone in aviation safety technology. Systems like Garmin’s hold significant promise in enhancing the safety of small planes and business jets.
The FAA is continuing its investigation to verify compliance with safety protocols. The agency also aims to explore how automated systems can be more widely integrated in future aviation operations.
This incident highlights the growing role of intelligent automation in aviation. Nonetheless, pilots remain essential decision-makers, with Autoland serving as a vital backup during critical emergencies.
