Man charged after in-flight drama forced emergency landing in Oberon
An elderly passenger has been charged after allegedly trying to take control of a light plane during a flight across regional New South Wales.
Police said the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing after restraining passenger Les Nixon, 82, who had chartered the Monday afternoon flight from Bankstown to Cowra.
James Chandler, 23, landed in a paddock in Oberon, in the state's central west.
Nixon was flown to Sydney's Westmead Hospital, where he was treated for cuts to his head.
He was still wearing his hospital gown when police took him to Parramatta Police Station and charged him with prejudicing the safe operation of an aircraft.
Mr Chandler was treated in hospital for a knee injury and shock.
His father Paul Chandler said the family was "enormously proud" of the way the young pilot handled the situation.
"He's an outstanding young man and with a professionalism and maturity far beyond his years," he said.
Basair Aviation College's managing director David Trevelyan said Mr Chandler had only two years' flying experience.
"He did an excellent job," Mr Trevelyan said.
"I think it was an amazingly difficult scenario he was in and he conducted himself very professionally."
Nixon is due to appear in the Parramatta Local Court on September 29.
