Garmin’s revolutionary Autoland system has been put through its paces in a real-world scenario after the pilot of a Beechcraft King Air became incapacitated over Colorado.
The aircraft was en route to Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport when the incident occurred. The Autoland system reportedly took over control of the aircraft, sent out emergency alerts and communicated with ATC on approach to the airport.
The airport reported that the flight had landed safely and there have been no reports of injuries. It’s not known how many passengers were onboard the aircraft.
That’s an amazing outcome from what could easily have been a tragedy. Thanks for sharing!
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
December 22, 2025, 10:03 AM
smlsig
Wow! That’s amazing. I guess that the ATC was aware of these systems and made the runway available for the King Air. Would love to see a follow up on what happened after the plane came to a stop.
------------------ Eddie
Our Founding Fathers were men who understood that the right thing is not necessarily the written thing. -kkina
December 22, 2025, 10:05 AM
architect
Hey Waymo, hold my beer!
Am I correct in understanding that the female-sounding voice on the posted clip is the plane's AI that is performing the approach and landing? It does not appear to be capable of obtaining information (crosswind, etc.) from ATC, or to be diverted after it has declared the emergency, is this the case? Also, I wonder what triggered the AI to take over, and how the "pilot incapacitation" was determined.
Kudos to the designer of this system, and the ATC and ground personnel that allowed the landing to occur without a tragedy. Just coincidentally, I watched the movie Airport! last night, Ted Stryker might have been out of a job had Autoland been available.
December 22, 2025, 11:46 AM
c1steve
How was the plane able to send out the 7700 emergency message. Does it monitor engine controls, and if something is off then take over?
-c1steve
December 22, 2025, 12:26 PM
HRK
How Garmin Autoland works to save aircraft and lives
Garmin Autoland is an emergency safety system designed to automatically land an aircraft if the pilot becomes incapacitated. It is developed by Garmin and is integrated into advanced avionics suites such as the Garmin G3000 and Garmin G5000.
Unlike traditional automation, Autoland is not a pilot-assistance feature for normal operations. It is explicitly designed for worst-case scenarios, when no one on board is capable of flying the aircraft.
Autoland can be activated in two ways:
Automatically, if the system detects a loss of pilot interaction over a defined period, combined with other indicators such as lack of control inputs Manually, via a dedicated “Autoland” button accessible to passengers Once activated, Autoland takes full control of the aircraft. From that point, the system manages navigation, communications, descent, approach, landing, braking, and engine shutdown.
Despite the name, Garmin Autoland is not the same as airline autoland systems used in low-visibility approaches. It requires no pilot input once activated, and works at any suitable airport, not just those which are approved.
The King Air incident offers a rare real-world validation of Autoland’s design philosophy, showing how automation can act as a last line of defense when human intervention is no longer possible. While never intended to replace pilot skill, the system’s successful use in an emergency highlights its potential to fundamentally change how aviation manages pilot incapacitation risk.
December 22, 2025, 12:32 PM
ftttu
I was just watching a video of a single engine ‘commuter’ jet which touts this feature. I was unaware it existed prior. Good to see it worked as advertised.
Retired Texas Lawman
December 22, 2025, 01:19 PM
Johnny 3eagles
Pilot inaction. Similar to the Mazda Lane Keep Auto Steer. If it doesn't detect some driver feedback on the steering wheel it alarms?
Any dog can be a Guide Dog if you don't care where you're going.
NRA ENDOWMENT LIFE MEMBER
December 22, 2025, 01:36 PM
Pipe Smoker
quote:
Would love to see a follow up on what happened after the plane came to a stop.
Me too. And if automatics activated the system.
"The rest of the story”, as Paul Harvey used to say.
Serious about crackers.
December 22, 2025, 03:47 PM
rduckwor
Apparently, a passenger activated the system. It does EVERYTHING from navigation, to communication with the tower at the selected airport. Calculates which airport is the best choice based upon distance and fuel, then heads to that airport identifies itself to the tower as the emergency landing system, announces the runway chosen and periodically updates the tower with distance and time until touchdown.
Came initially on the Cirrus Vison Jet but now can be retrofitted to many other aircraft. Made by Garmin and partners.
Truly amazing.
RMD
TL Davis: “The Second Amendment is special, not because it protects guns, but because its violation signals a government with the intention to oppress its people…” Remember: After the first one, the rest are free.
“I want to go like grandpa went. Peacefully. Quietly. In his sleep.
With 175 screaming passengers behind him”.
Cool system. If I was a bazillionaire my jet would have that. And a parachute. And a fully stocked bar.
December 22, 2025, 05:44 PM
coloradohunter44
For aircraft to have or be able to utilize this system they must have or be able to have auto-throttles installed. Truly a remarkable system. I'm glad to see it's works as advertised.
"Someday I hope to be half the man my bird-dog thinks I am." looking forward to 4 years of TRUMP!
December 22, 2025, 05:52 PM
Pipe Smoker
quote:
For aircraft to have or be able to utilize this system they must have or be able to have auto-throttles installed.
Auto-damned-near-everything installed. Including landing gear deployment.
Serious about crackers.
December 22, 2025, 07:03 PM
a1abdj
Short list of planes it is available on.
Currently Available Aircraft:
Cirrus Vision Jet (SF50 G2/G2+)
Piper M600 SLS & 700 Fury
Daher TBM 940 & 960
Beechcraft King Air 200 & 300 Series (with G1000 NXi)
I wonder if installing this on your plane (not that I will ever have one) allows pilots to keep their licenses past a physical disability/risk that would have otherwise disqualified them?
Similarly, when all cars have self-driving, will at least one passenger in the car need to have a driver's license?
Let's keep this about Autoland, and not get diverted by my potential thread-jack.
December 23, 2025, 01:41 AM
DaBigBR
quote:
Originally posted by architect: I wonder if installing this on your plane (not that I will ever have one) allows pilots to keep their licenses past a physical disability/risk that would have otherwise disqualified them?
Similarly, when all cars have self-driving, will at least one passenger in the car need to have a driver's license?
Let's keep this about Autoland, and not get diverted by my potential thread-jack.
Unlikely. This is a safety net, not a crutch.
December 24, 2025, 10:23 AM
rduckwor
We learned today that the pilots were not incapacitated as they had oxygen masks and used them. No passengers were on board. However a rapid depressurization is a traumatic event; most of us can remember the ear pain when ascending or descending with blocked ears. Both my father and I (he a commercial pilot), frequented the ENT guys for blocked ears. the event triggered the system, and they decided to leave the system in place in case they were unable to land the A/C should they feel unwell or something else intervened.
The A/C has been repaired and is back in service.
So, the system at best saved two lives, and at worst, saved a multimillion dollar A/C.
Good outcome either way.
RMD
TL Davis: “The Second Amendment is special, not because it protects guns, but because its violation signals a government with the intention to oppress its people…” Remember: After the first one, the rest are free.
December 24, 2025, 01:52 PM
Sigmund
quote:
Originally posted by rduckwor: We learned today that the pilots were not incapacitated as they had oxygen masks and used them...
King Air autolands in Colorado
Garmin system declared 'pilot incapacitation' emergency on radio, landed as designed December 22, 2025 By Jim Moore
Editor's note: This story was updated December 24 to include new information.
A Beechcraft King Air executed a safe landing in Denver under Garmin Autoland control on December 20, reported to be the first use of the system outside of testing and certification—though a charter operator later later told a television news station that the crew responded to a loss of cabin pressure by allowing the system to take over.
Fire officials reported nobody received medical treatment on scene or was transported to a hospital following the landing. Garmin issued a brief statement about the event, confirming the Autoland activation and subsequent landing at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport.
Charter company Buffalo River Aviation issued a statement to CBS Colorado on December 22, explaining that the two pilots aboard the King Air reported a loss of pressurization after departure from Aspen, Colorado, donned oxygen masks, and opted to allow the Garmin system to fly the aircraft to a safe landing at an airport selected by the system. It was not clear why the King Air crew opted not to make any radio calls of their own during the descent and landing at the Colorado airport...