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From: jeb@cbnewsj.att.com (james.beckman)
Newsgroups: rec.aviation
Subject: Dog Lands Airplane!!!
Keywords: It's in the paper, it must be true
Message-ID: <1990Jul6.182553.2346@cbnewsj.att.com>
Date: Fri, 06 Jul 90 11:25:53 PDT
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 76

[I just couldn't pass up this rag when I was in the supermarket
 checkout line:]

>From the SUN, July 10, 1990:

DOG LANDS PLANE AFTER PILOT HAS HEART ATTACK

When a pilot collapsed from a heart attack, his super-smart
dog took the controls and earned his wings by miraculously 
landing the small single-engine plane!

Aviation investigators are baffled by the amazing incident
in which a mixed cocker spaniel named Max saved his own life
and the life of his owner, Javier Mendito.

"This is a miracle or the closest thing to it," says flight
controller Renaldo Mercedes.

"When people rushed out to the plane after it landed, they found
the pilot unconcscious and slumped in his seat.

     DISTRESS CALL

"In the other seat was Max, still gripping the wheel in his jaws.
One of his paws was on the throttle.

"If the dog didn't land the plane, then God Himself must have done it."

Javier, owner of a successful chain of hardware stores and an
experienced private pilot, was returning with his dog from a
vacation at his summer home.

When his single-engine Cessna was 25 miles from the airport, he
radioed that he was feeling sick to his stomach and had chest
pains.

"I spoke with him and his voice sounded weak," says controller
Renaldo.  "I asked him if there was anyone else in the plane that
I could talk to.  He said his only passenger was his dog.

"Moments later, I heard coughing and then the whimpering of the
dog.  I screamed for the pilot but there was no answer."

Terrified that the plane would crash in a populated area, Renaldo
alerted emergency officials.  But he was stunned to see on his radar
screen that the plane was still on course.

     AMAZED

Fire trucks and an ambulance rushed to the airport and spectators
lined the field waiting for the plane to come into view.

"It suddenly dropped out of the clouds just beyond the field,"
says Renaldo.  "The way it made its approach, it seemed as if a
skilled pilot was at the controls."

"I watched in amazement as the plane floated down to a rough
but nearly perfect landing and came to a stop with the engine
continuing to run."

Unconscious Javier was pulled from the aircraft and given
emergency treatment, then was rushed to a hospital in nearby
Baena, Spain.

Now recovering from his heart attack, he swears he didn't
land the plane.

"I'm just as amazed as anyone as to how the plane could have
landed safely," he says.  "I don't think the dog could have done
it without God's help.

"But I know that I owe myu life to Max.  I've called my lawyer
and intend to make a provision in my will so he'll be taken care
of if I should die before he does.

[Jim Beckman   AT&T BL, Middletown, NJ   att!mtqub!jeb]