A plane made an emergency landing at Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport Friday night – but the pilot was not at the controls.
“Emergency crews responded to the airport for a reported crash at around 6:30,” Gainesville Police spokesman Kevin Holbrook said. “The preliminary investigation indicates the male pilot may have had a medical issue in the air, causing his passenger to have to land the plane.”
Upon approach, the plane took a nosedive and struck the runway.
The pilot was taken in critical condition to Northeast Georgia Medical Center. The passenger was taken to the hospital for evaluation.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.