To the fine folks at VASAviation and everyone who has expressed support and admiration for Maggie over the last week, we greatly appreciate your thoughts and words. To answer the question below - yes Maggie has seen this video. ..and to M. Katze - don’t be terrified. You - just like Maggie - will find the confidence you need if tested like this. You’ve already shown you have it in you or you wouldn’t have become a student pilot in the first place. BTW - weather permitting Maggie will go back up today! Walt Taraska “Maggie’s Dad”
Hi Walter, Very happy and glad to hear from you. It's great to see Maggie continue chasing her dream and will soon become (already is) a very good pilot! My followers and I wish her all the best in the future. Best regards!
Loved the happy ending on this vid. She's pursuing a dream that I've only dreamed of at that age (still do, eyesight had other plans), playing MS-DOS flight sims. A testament to her commitment to her training, staying calm in an emergency, and those around her that support her, I say. Rock on!
@@ashleywilliams4665 I believe that her change of attitude/voice at 1:22 (as understandable as it was) did sharply increase the fear level in the pilot though. The comforting "It's gonna be OK, we're looking for help" only emphasises the severity of the situation - where it might have been more appropriate to play it down verbally. But this is obviously just speaking from hindsight and ATC does recover within a few seconds to be more commanding in her instructions.
you just know everybody who can hear all the comms are doing their best to be professional and calm, but every other pilot or controller on the air while that was happening was surely holding their breath and hoping to hear everything end up ok. you don't want to hear that something terrible has happened.
What's the random pilots at the end? I think your first sentence got cut off as it just started with "it's the random pilots at the end" with no context.
that ATC lady is 200% professional, it was almost just another day at the office for her .... in the meantime the rest of us are looking for a second box of tissues lol
As soon as she says “Alright, looking for traffic” you can tell she gets her confidence back. She knows in that moment she’s a real pilot. She’s gonna do whatever she wants to in life.
@@jimgreene68 Its like every pilot says there is nothing routine about any emergency landing, sure we train for it as much as possible but once your in the situation it becomes something totally new, especially for an inexperienced pilot such as Maggie, that being said she did an excellent job flying the airplane and handling a situation that no pilot would ever want to experience, and it shows she had excellent training by landing that plane in one piece. Way to go Maggie, i would be happy to fly with you any day :).
Received a note today asking whether Maggie is flying again. I’m proud to say that after a bit of a break Maggie got back into the same plane (with a new wing and right main) and re-soloed. She’s pretty close to finishing up and getting her license even with all the craziness going on this year. I can’t believe two years have gone by and we still receive notes weekly. I would again like to express our appreciation for all the kind words and encouragement you have expressed. The aviation community is a special place - there are 5600 comments that are examples of how special it is. Thanks again Maggie’s Dad
That wobble in her voice when she said okay almost broke me. 17 years old and she managed to hold it together is amazing. I hope she is incredibly proud of herself.
Watching this video years later, but as a father to a daughter, the moment she said "Okay" in that scared voice, I got extremely emotional. She did amazing and it's great to hear she continued to fly.
She calmed down a LOT once she heard HER Instructor come over the radio. That's a sign of a fantastic instructor. She had complete confidence that he'd get her down safely. Good stuff and she did a great job!
Also, as far as emergencies go this is pretty decent one to get as a student, plenty of time to think and work out a game plan, it's light and the weather wasn't turning. You can't stay in flight or fight forever so once her brain realised it wasn't immediately in danger things will ease up. And then hearing her instructor will feel like a safety net and give you much needed confidence.
I'm surprised there isn't a requirement to have an instructor ready on comms for a first solo. If the student contacts the instructor for any help then that solo shouldn't count but they should have the immediate option to talk to their instructor.
I think it happened at 0:43 once she heard the wheel had come off. The way she said "roger" was like she was mentally rolling up her sleeves. What a boss.
@Peter Evans ATC stands for Air Traffic Control, not Air Traffic Controller. People refer to an ATCS as a "controller" all the time. Go back to your little corner and settle down.
Her little scared “okay” made me snap back to realizing this is a child in such a dangerous situation and it really hurt my heart. She did a wonderful job staying as composed as she did, she’s got a bright future ahead. This goes to show no matter how old a teenager is when they get into tough or dangerous situations they are still a child who needs help and guidance. Glad she had all those people behind her and her skills once she was assured that she could do it by her instructors. They believed in her too, you can tell by the way they spoke. Great job!
17 isn't a child Honestly.. people need to wake up and stop treating younger folk like they are helpless and incompetent. Treat them that way and that is what they will be.
@@NoNo-fy3kr 17 is a child. A child has far more definition than just being helpless. No body treated her like she was helpless and incompetent, my god.
@@NoNo-fy3kr nobody treated her like she was incompetent...? She was a student doing her first solo and lost her gear. That is very stressful for anyone let alone a student on their first solo, and also a minor ontop of that. She was clearly very scared but kept it together and handled it like a pro.
When her voice broke on the radio I almost started crying immediately. I have three kids, two very close to Maggie's age when this happened. An adult staying calm in this situation is incredible, but for a young woman to keep it together and do what she needed to do is just inspiring! I was so happy to read the comments by her father that she's still flying to this day! The instructors and ATC did a fantastic job at helping keep her calm. 👏
0:45 - Can we take a moment to appreciate this unnamed guy, who noticed the gear fall off and immediately informed the tower? If he hadn't noticed, or hadn't said anything, no one else might have noticed until it was too late to plan out a landing, or maybe even until Maggie landed in Portland and found herself inexplicably careering off the runway.
@@cdubbleyoo It is spelled "WACO" but pronounced as you hear in the recording. It's a type of single engine airplane that was originally manufactured in the 1920's and 1930's, then resurrected in the 1980's.
She had an emergency that many pilots have never had, and with the support of a traffic controller who knew immediately she was talking to a student pilot, to her instructor who ran to help when he heard her in trouble on the radio, she, all alone in that cockpit, landed her plane safely, but the first few teary 'okays' broke my heart and made me tear up. Your pilot parents are so proud, and grateful you're here to tell the tale
I imagine her instructor John was waiting for her at the original destination. As a teacher myself of just this age of student, I can only imagine how fast he drove to get to that ATC Tower once he heard his girl was in trouble. Everyone in this video was just masterful in how they helped Maggie get this done. And Maggie herself was the most amazing of all!
yeah, as a tower operator, great job of calling that one. He may have saved a bad deal that day..and in the final analysis...it works so nice when everybody helps.
That’s the initial panic when you don’t know what’s gonna happen, I feel that a lot, the bravery and composure she had to make a joke a few minutes later is the definition of strength to me. Being able to go from panic to handling it take a lot of will power and she had the skill. Absolutely impressed.
I cried listening to this and I'm a grown man. 35 years old. It brought tears to my eyes not just because of hearing the fear in her voice and knowing what she was going through but also because of just being so proud of her. Most people who know me would tell you that I'm considerate a man with quite a rough exterior. But kids they are my weakness without question. Whether they're mine my nieces and nephews my neighbors or somebody else's that I've never met before, it doesn't matter. Well done Maggie we're all so damn proud of you, Glad you're okay.
@@stejer211 You need help. He was describing how it made him feel-- it touched him. As it did me. And that is a big plus to people in this lonely world. It's like telling about your trip to the art museum--there are certain ones that 'clicked' with you. He was actually giving the video a complement, saying that it was touching. You must be a millennial. The only talents they have is being negative, and hating, and calling anything Cringe and Awkward and you all seem to make a game of finding fault.' If someone went to see a comedian, and they said, because of the jokes, they wet their pants and almost cracked a rib, would they be making the statement about them? Go be a hater where the weak minded will fall for your stupid BS
As a father to 2 daughters…that sound in her voice brings tears to my eyes. The instructor and the tower did an awesome job handling this and congrats to Maggie for handling this situation like a true professional.
In my opinion, she was no more scared than anyone would be in her situation. Her voice may have projected her emotion more than someone older or more experienced, but that didnt mean she wasn't in control of the situation and competent. Young poor scared female? yes. But first and most important: GOOD PILOT!!!!!!
Juke : Yeah she did!!! Somewhere I read: The definition of courage is like being a bull rider, you’re scared to death but you still climb on his back. Maggie was awesome!!! So proud of her!!!
Maggie did a great job, but let's also commend that flight instructor. He brought her from panicked girl to confident pilot in less than 30 seconds with his excellent coaching style.
even at 17, that's way to stressful for someone like her. ☹ The safest thing she should've done is stay on the ground after exiting the plane so maintenance can look at it, then install a replacement-if one is in stock before she can taxi down runway 9 (full-length) and depart. In most states, the legal age to apply for a pilot's license is 18+ so, the other thing she could have done is wait til her next birthday.
@@Belchmaster41 For airplanes (and helicopters), the FAA requires students to be 16 years old to solo and individuals to be 17 years old to obtain the private pilot certificate. That applies to all 50 states.
Also the ATC lady did a great job too. Kept her calm and was reassuring while also giving clear instructions and making sure everything went as it was supposed to until her instructor could take over.
*I must admit I nearly cried with this...* Aviation is empathy. Aviation is helping others. Congrats (and also thanks) to Maggie, Instructors John and Greg and the Air Traffic Controller for showing how we all should act in these situations. Captain Maggie, you kept calm, you flew your aircraft and you did bring it down safely. Good job!
After seeing all of the bad crashes (and trying to learn from them), I'm very happy to hear this. Surprised that a runway light went through the wing like that. Hope she continues past this. This fellow Warrior pilot suspects she will make a great pilot.
Completely agree with the emotion on this one! I remember taking my first solo last year at 21 years old and i have to admit im not sure i would have handled this half as well as this poor girl did. Way to go Maggie!
The woman controller is a true professional. She was very supportive and encouraging, and it's so nice to see that. Maggie, phenomenal job dealing with this! I hope you have many happy flights!
I loved loved loved how at the end the other people on the channel (don't know the technical term) all gave her a shout out. Must have been heart breaking and ultimately relieving to have heard the whole saga.
I’m really impressed by the way Captain Maggie got her confidence back. Her nervousness was completely normal, but the way the controller put her in control by going on circles is amazing. This is a masterclass on how to react in an emergency. Also, this is great to hear other pilots at the end sending kudos to Maggie. Really supportive. Great job Maggie!
@@karenkirkpatrick6438 This is a standard question for a pilot in case of emergency. For example, a pilot can say: I going to dump fuel, or I'm going to go back to the airport, or give me the vector to somwhere.
@@mattfisher5195 The power of tone and context. Her "Okay" had so much fear and uncertainty in it you'd have to be heartless not to feel for her in that moment
@@Teh_Random_Canadian That's why the traffic controllers and instructor having such a confident and calm voice is so important. The way they spoke to her had a huge effect.
The thing is the more times you re-listen to this, the more you can pick apart where every single person on the ground is genuinely terrified, almost to the point of thinking the worst but having to say anything and everything to sound professional and keep her calm. Those are some world class professionals right there!
Student pilots have a ton of confidence in their instructors - by the time you’ve solo’d like that the two have probably been through plenty of good times and plenty of mistakes that she’s learned from. Hearing that guy come on the radio must have been incredibly comforting.
as an instructor i hope my students never have to encounter this but i hope that if the situation did arise i would be able to talk them down safely the same way that john did. fantastic job by everyone involved
It's technically the pilots responsibility to make sure everything on the plane is functioning and ready to go. If something isnt, then u solve the problem yourself or get a mechanic.
Never cried this much to a UA-cam video before, omg. Those first brave 'OK’s' as the thought of the lurking danger creeped in, destroyed me. Hurt to hear that soft voice so broken. SO HAPPY Captain Maggie is alive and well, and all those pilot cheers in the end, and the positivity in the comments, are insanely well deserved. 🏆🥂 Wishing her all the best the skies can offer, and you WILL have a stellar career in aviation! And the same goes for the amazing ATC and instructors. Well done. 🙏 -From Finland, another once-student
Everyone involved in this is absolutely incredible. Maggie, John the instructor, ATC woman, all top notch. Glad Maggie had a team around her to get her through this. Keeping calm through a situation that can rightfully panic anyone, she's going to be an awesome pilot (if she's not already)
@@tee4222 I believe that would be on her, pre-flight maintenance checks should be done by the owner or operator. Though things happen, in this case it could have been something faulty that failed from the manufacturer thats not usually inspected, or just a freak accident in general.
@@RYVENANT I’d imagine there was a pretty thorough investigation done. I was in a Pilatus that had a windscreen failure once and both the faa and pilatus didn’t rest until they could determine a cause.
even at that age, flying for the first time can be VERY scary. One thing most pilots will tell you is that it's extremely tricky to land right in the center once you descent from about 40k feet that can also be very challenging when you are low on fuel and need to radio tower with a MAYDAY (some have to say it 2 or 3 times, so ground crews can get trucks rolling if needed)
I had a two grand mal seizures in my jr year of high school at the age of 16 and 17 one happened while I was in school scaring the crap outta my teachers
@@Belchmaster41it's customary to repeat "mayday" or "panpan" calls three times to ensure that the ATC hears it. One or two calls might be swallowed by static of by heterodyne (when other aircraft in range transmits). But if one repeats the call three times, it's highly improbable all three will be lost.
Maggie, amazing work! I'm 35, I'm a Captain at a regional airline and I've flown with every personality type you can imagine. I cried at the end when you pulled this off. I hope you're still flying. You stayed focused and flew the wing, you didn't let the aircraft fly you. You have guts, and without meeting you I know I'd be lucky to have you by my side in a stressful situation. You also have amazing instructors. I could hear your training and confidence come through while listening.... You are built to be an aviator, you have a bright future.
I love the way her whole demeanor changes when she hears her instructor's voice and she re-gained all her confidence....great job by the ATC who has to be a mom! Maggie knows what she's doing - great job.
@@seeitsjay A woman can have incredibly high empathy without being a mother. My empathy is so high that I could never force someone to be alive. That's how much I care about people.
I loved the part when the instructor told her the airplane doesn’t know it lost a wheel so fly as normal. So cute! When you touch down, it’s gona pull to the right. Etc. How calming for Maggie to have his voice talking her step by step. Great job Maggie.
If I'm ever on a plane and hear the words "I'm Maggie, I'll be your captain today" I'll know I'm in safe hands. Superb landing, 17 years old first solo with a gear failure!
When Maggie heard John, I can hear the relief in her voice. The next occasion she replied to John, her voice had acquired confidence and "can do" attitude. I want to give a personal praise to Instructor John, it's clear that you cared _and_ taught your students well. I'd gladly entrust my child to learn to fly with you.
Agreed - I feel like I need an "Instructor John" to give me guidance through my daily life. Just listening to him made me feel more confident... and I don't even fly planes! Just need a voice like that to tell me what's what so I can get sh!t done :)
@@cobrakai3732 "Mr Kai, it's John. I need you to get out of bed. I know you realize it's 2pm on a Wednesday and so you're not feeling so great about your choices right now, but we're going to get through this. The first thing we're going to do is try to find your floor....it's probably somewhere under those clothes and pizza boxes. We've got plenty of daylight, we're going to get this done."
You could hear her countenance change and her confidence improve when her instructor started coaching her. Great instructor and I’m sure she’ll be an awesome pilot. She’s getting some experience most student pilots don’t get to experience. I know it’s scary, but it may turn out to be something she may have to use in the future. Even bad situations can be a learning experience. Excellent job by all involved.
I am quite teary over here. And SO VERY PROUD of Maggie!! My son starts his PPL lessons next week and I hope his instructors are just like John and Greg. Well done team!!
I am a pilot with over 16000 flight hours in my log book, some of those as a fighter pilot, many as an airline captain. During those almost 2-continuous-years inside cockpits and flight decks I have had my share of in inflight malfunctions and emergencies, up to and including due recourse use of an ejection seat. I wish I could personally tell Maggie this: I don't think I would have behaved as bravely and competently as she did, had I lost a main landing gear on my first solo, over 35 years ago.
That's saying a lot. I thought I was the only one who started tearing up until I started reading all these comments. Boy, we have a soft spot for our daughters, don't we? Even if we don't actually have any daughters......
All 3 people here deserve a tremendous amount of respect and gratitude. The Pilot does a terrific job landing in a very difficult and terrifying situation. The instructor shows his commitment and skill at the most necessary time for his student. And the controller's balance of compassion and professionalism was key in making this a successful landing. Congratulations to all for the best outcome possible!
Sitting outside, having a morning smoke, tears welling over. This is the compassion and empathy I want to see between everyone. I'm so glad everyone came together to support this girl in need. I'm proud of her.
You know what, I know people will complain about the tears but wow. Imagine, you are a student pilot, you've been doing great, and you care a hell of a lot about this. You are just 17 years old and in a normal solo training flight and suddenly you are handing the kind of thing that terrifies an amazing pilot. Suddenly you are in hold to destroy a plane that you are doing your best to take care of knowing this is gonna be on your record. You know you are not trained enough for this, you know this could be your death, you wonder about your friends and family. This is goddamn bravery in a way that few will ever have the chance to show. watch her clear up and become confident as it continues. This is tear jerking to me watching it.
I think I had a tear in my eyes. At the end she did what she was trained to do and you could tell by her voice. Once she just had the landing to deal with she didn't have the fear. Her instructor did a great job!! I would fly with her anytime!
I nearly cried when I first heard her terrified voice. I nearly cried when I heard the ATC calming her and she just replying a simple "alright" to everything. I nearly cried when her instructor John came on frequency (yes, open frequency. Nobody transmitted so that the instructor could use it his discretion to give Maggie necessary instructions) and I nearly cried - I actually think a few tears dropped down my eyes - when she landed safely, John congratulated her and gave the last instructions to leave the aircraft safely and everyone started to clap and other pilots congratulated her. As a pilot myself and I still hope I don't have to go through any of these in my life, this is aviation.
On my very first solo, lined up on final and about 45 seconds from touchdown, I had a big Sikorski hover taxi unauthorised across the runway, and had to go around. Shook the hell out of me, but the tower let me do a circuit or two to settle down before trying again. Our experience affects our reaction to the unexpected, I had none, and nearly panicked, but a great ATC helped me deal with it, and after that, I dealt with problems a lot better because I'd been there before, and losing Comms and flapless landings weren't as scary any more
To listen to her voice go from oh crap then becoming more and more confident through the process was great, then after she landed you could hear the happiness in her voice. Good for them and good for her, handled like a champ!
I know it! Her first transmissions I was like " oh my God this poor girl"........by the time she was on final I knew without a doubt she was going to be fine!!!! Good job Maggie!!!
I've watched this video several times, especially when I need a "lift" to my day. Brava, Maggie. It never fails to amaze me what real teamwork can accomplish, and my hat is off to you, to John, to ATC, and everyone who contributed to this effort. The operative word here is "teamwork," and given the state of the world right now, such teamwork is needed more than ever. Spectacular work from all.
As an Air Force recruiter for 22 years, I assisted many young people who had the dream of becoming a pilot in the world's greatest Air Force. I read somewhere here that Maggie had a desire to become an Air Force pilot. So she would need a recruiter like I was, to help her put together an application. I saw so many folks wanting to put their best foot forward to get picked for a pilot position. They would cobble together their character references, transcripts, awards, and other credentials, hoping the selection board would find them worthy, and I saw phenomenal people get passed over. Only the best are selected. I definitely never had anyone who could have simply included a link to a UA-cam video. This one would do it for me, I'm a big fan of Maggie and the other great aviation professionals who brought a terrifying situation to a successful conclusion, and I hope she has been able to realize that goal of becoming an Air Force pilot. None of the ones I ever recruited made me cry like this, though. Being scared is human. Acting professionally and calmly while terrified, that's heroic. ;)
Name a greater Air Force, and while you're at it, name an Air Force that has ever been a greater force for freedom and liberty. You know you cannot.@@benja1378
her parents let her become a pilot just like anyone can do, its a job just like any else and it has risks, she wasnt hurt, everything ended fine. Damn right she had good parents.
Student pilot solo, yea, there's a trial by fire for ya! The tower guidance was awesome, she remained exceptionally calm, and transferred that feeling back to the pilot.
JimsEquipmentShed I had an emergency on my first solo cross country as a student. The controller being calm helped a lot for me. Just the matter of fact way the controllers talk is very relaxing in the moment. Until one gets into a full out emergency you don’t realize how much they really help you. This is something this young lady will remember forever.
Her instructor still being at the FOB was a stroke of luck as well. I can't imagine problems on a cross country, unfamiliar controllers would throw me off even more. But you made it. ;-)
A buddy of mine who flys for a major airline and flys mainly trans Atlantic flights described what Maggie had happen here... Imagine learning to catch a ball, you're doing great then you amp it up a notch and get somebody to throw you the ball much much faster, but this time when you catch it successfully, you open up your glove to throw it back and it's a freaking hand grenade with a pin pulled... now you HAVE to deal with it whether you want to or not and it's all on you with how it's gonna end.
If you have a student flying I think technically you're required to be generally available in case something happens to the student they can call you. Because it's your (instructor) ticket on the line if something goes wrong (if the student flies into airspace they shouldn't or some such). But yes, great that they could get to the tower quickly and talk her through it.
It depends on the party. Funding social parties doesn't always work out well, but I always get a good return on investment when I fund political parties.
As a dad of an almost 17 year old girl, when I heard that first “ok” from her my heart broke. Even though I knew the outcome, I was holding my breath through the rest of the video! It was awesome to hear her voice go from terrified to calm as her training kicked in.
All parties involved did an amazing job. All the other pilots listening on the frequency congratulating her at the end was the cherry on top. So heartwarming.
At the age of 17, you cant vote, you cant buy alcohole and you cant smoke. But you can fly a machine that can kill many inocent people on the groun. This girl whas not mature ore menthaly ready for a solo. It do not help with a cute woice.
Same! after reading the title I thought it was not going to be this intense, but after that it hit me real quick the terror that it must be being in that situation.
I listen to a lot of this channel’s videos when I drive this one just had me dive into the nearest parking lot. Awesome composure and awesome instructors
I got my licence at 17. When i was doing my circuit (with instructor) flights i had a door burst open (warriors make a loud bang when the doors open even though its harmless) and it was pretty scary. I cant imagine what this was like for her. She deserves a medal the way she handled it
I am a mexican corporate jet pilot listening carefully this wonderful audio admiring Maggie's temper and control assisted by tower and the great instructor, maintaining all parties total calm, I cry a little bit to be honest 'cause I picture my daughter same age going through a situation like that. Congratulations to every single person involved in bringing this to a great happy ending. Wooooow. I wish I could give a hug of happiness to all of you guys. My respect you all.i
It hits you right in the heart, that could be my daughter or anyone’s younger sister up there. You really want to hug her in that moment. She did a damn good job!
Just another pilot chiming in with the rest of them here... that was perfect. Everyone executed perfectly in this situation. Maggie flew the plane, the tower knew exactly the right tone, and the instructors taught her well. Also, let's not forget the pilot who spotted her gear falling off... boy was that fortunate. Great job, all.
@jadesluv please take note of the insane amount of irony in the joke/satire, I have given you an F on your assignment for being a total dipwad sack of shit, please try harder next time.
I tear up every time i watch this and hear her scared ''okay''... This video is good for bringing back empathy in me these days where humanity is nowhere to be found. Its some deep primal protective instict, i would risk my life in that moment to help her.
This video pops up in my feed a few times a year, and I end up more impressed with everyone involved each time i watch it. Tower controller, instructor, the captain, and even the rest of the traffic did everything perfectly
When the ATC realized this is a student, she does go into a momma mode. The girl needed to hear from a momma that she would be okay. She was terrified but did an amazing job. She already is an amazing pilot, the world is her oyster!
When I heard her say "alright that's a good thing!" In that trembely voice I was like That's the moment you realize you dident almost die because of the damage to the plane but ya feel as if you were to die from the heart attack Instead XD
I got an "Apollo 13" feeling from this. She's all alone up there, but everybody on the ground is calm and professional getting her back safely. Great work from the pilot who spotted the problem, ATC, the instructor and Maggie herself!
As a Special Forces Officer who faced death on multiple occasions my heart sunk when I heard Maggie’s trembling voice. To me this event was scarier than anything else I’ve experienced. So relieved that Maggie successfully landed an airplane and walked away. Hopefully she continues her training to become a great pilot. Maggie, I’m taking off my Green Beret for you!!!
"17 year old student remained calm and landed safely" Well this should be a cool and chill watch. Can't wait to hear that calmness(and surely confidence) 1:29 Literally becomes as anxious as Maggie Oh boy.
Oh my gosh, having two beautiful daughter's myself, I basically melted when I heard this little girl's "Okay..." at 1:29 on the video. Courage isn't a lack of fear, courage is carrying on and doing what needs to be done in spite of that fear. My utmost respect to this courageous young woman!
I've heard this transmission several times. And the lady, when she responds with "ok" gets me misty eyed EVERY time! Heh I'm so happy that the flight community is the way it is. Everything gets dropped when a pilot needs assistance. That's a reminder of the good in humanity that's often forgotten.
I am so impressed with her skills, i would feel completely safe in a airliner with her at the controls. If she handled herself this well still in training, imagine her skills at the ATP level.
I came back to watch this after 4 years. Any updates on Maggie? I don’t have any children, but instantly maternal instincts kicked in. The punch to the gut with worry which then turned to absolute pride for this young lady is so impactful! Maggie and her instructors are awe inspiring. I can’t wait to be flown someday by Captain Maggie. What an honor that would be!
@@taylorcooke3775Not in the same plane. There was too much damage and not enough time for the NTSB to release the plane for repair, have the repairs done, then pass inspections. The plane did fly again, but not 4 days later.
This happened at my home field, she landed not more than 75 yards away from my tie down, where i was watching the whole thing. Her landing was as smooth as can be, she did a superb job
I think that the tower and instructors being calm helped her land, but i think we need to also give some recognition to the guy that noticed the wheel breaking in the first place.
She did exactly what they told her to do, & I think you will find that's incredibly, unbelievably, difficult under that much stress... plus she flew the plane. in the situation I think that's quite heroic! As of the ATC, they did OK but to ask "What are your intentions" of a pilot who is clearly still grappling what to do is maybe not the best idea, possibly some kind of suggestion as to what needs to be done may have been better, maybe there was a way of breaking the news in a way that is slightly less terrifying for the young pilot.
thats all well and good but if the other pilot flying a different plane didnt notify tower that her wheel broke off she would have had people she was unfamiliar with coaching her to land, some recognition is due for his part as well.
@@tigertalks1567 and I suppose keeping herself calm when she's terrified, trying to remember all the said "basic manoeuvres" in the midst of her fear, trying to remember all the things she needs to check and focus on, all while she's fully aware this could end very very badly, that all counts for nothing? That's really easy isn't it, just a walk in the park.....
Maggie does a good job with her skill and communication and I love the way the controller switches tones between pilots and situations. Great job ladies!
She took off as a 17 year old girl student and landed as a mature young woman pilot ! Congrats Maggie. You just got the type of training and experience, money can’t buy. This experience will stay with you forever, in a good way and give you something most other pilots don’t have. Real-world, actual emergency situation experience. That’s huge. I’ve been a pilot since the 80s and I don’t have it. Pilots everywhere are proud of you, well done !👍
You also learned something about yourself. You CAN do it. Life threw you a curve and you dealt with it. You will have a lot of people who will second guess how you handled this. And there will be lots of "what ifs" that occur to you. But, you landed in one piece. And walked away from it. That's what counts.
What a PHENOMENAL job by all involved. In the beginning, you could hear the intense fear in Maggie’s voice. She got calm and worked the problem. She continued to AVIATE, NAVIGATE and COMMUNICATE!! Strong work, Maggie! 👊🏻✈️
I've watched this a handful of times and it brings me to tears every time I hear John exclaim "Great job Maggie you got a lotta people cheering!" and you hear them all clapping. I get choked up from the relief and success. I also love hearing all the other people chime in and congratulate her. Awesome video! I'd love to get my pilots license and make it a profession but finances won't allow it just yet haha. One day!
To the fine folks at VASAviation and everyone who has expressed support and admiration for Maggie over the last week, we greatly appreciate your thoughts and words. To answer the question below - yes Maggie has seen this video.
..and to M. Katze - don’t be terrified. You - just like Maggie - will find the confidence you need if tested like this. You’ve already shown you have it in you or you wouldn’t have become a student pilot in the first place.
BTW - weather permitting Maggie will go back up today!
Walt Taraska “Maggie’s Dad”
Hi Walter,
Very happy and glad to hear from you.
It's great to see Maggie continue chasing her dream and will soon become (already is) a very good pilot! My followers and I wish her all the best in the future.
Best regards!
You are amazing Maggie! Sending tons of love and respect from Germany
Loved the happy ending on this vid. She's pursuing a dream that I've only dreamed of at that age (still do, eyesight had other plans), playing MS-DOS flight sims. A testament to her commitment to her training, staying calm in an emergency, and those around her that support her, I say. Rock on!
Your daughter is a champ - as a father, you definitely did something right! :-) You can be proud!
Great job Maggie, Greg, John, and Tower. Thanks for the update Walt. Seen all the way here in Australia!
Christ that first "okay" just hits me right in the heart
Craig Perkey Yeah. That really hit me hard.
Hit me harder then thanos snapped.
Literally sounds like the human version of a kitten, you feel so bad for her!
Same, I had to pause the video and breathe for a few moments.
I concur Craig.
The definition of courage is being scared shitless and still getting the job done.
Exactly!
Exactly what I was thinking and couldn't have said it better.
Exactly right .
I guess I should be pretty courageous these days then, as my social anxiety has kept me scared shitless for a decade now.
@@sarcasm-83 you dont know the definition of scared shit less if you think social anxiety is in it
I think the lady in the tower couldn’t have handled this any better. Her kindness to the student rings clearly through every word.
Yesss, you can hear the change in her as soon as Maggie says she’s a student solo
@@ashleywilliams4665 sounded like „mom mode activated“
@@mats7492 from what I have read the controller actually is a mom. So makes sense
@@ashleywilliams4665 I believe that her change of attitude/voice at 1:22 (as understandable as it was) did sharply increase the fear level in the pilot though. The comforting "It's gonna be OK, we're looking for help" only emphasises the severity of the situation - where it might have been more appropriate to play it down verbally.
But this is obviously just speaking from hindsight and ATC does recover within a few seconds to be more commanding in her instructions.
@Luke Y'okay buddy?
You seem a bit... tense.
It’s the random pilots at the end, you can tell they’ve been watching the whole thing and are damn proud of her for some fantastic flying
you just know everybody who can hear all the comms are doing their best to be professional and calm, but every other pilot or controller on the air while that was happening was surely holding their breath and hoping to hear everything end up ok. you don't want to hear that something terrible has happened.
What's the random pilots at the end? I think your first sentence got cut off as it just started with "it's the random pilots at the end" with no context.
@@Kriddle1229 at the end of the video, in blue text, named ¿? were possibly nearby pilots who commended her landing
@@Kriddle1229 many times, there'll be a lot of 📻 static
@@Kriddle1229 the context is implied.
The other pilots congratulating her makes this even better.
One of the things I love most about aviation.
yes yes !!!
Yes! All pilots have been students at one point; seeing a student in that situation must be terrifying for everyone. I bet her instructor is proud!
Sounded like older pilots right?
And each and every one of them was holding their collective breaths...
I like the part where the ATC lady instantly changed from professional to motherly once she learnt Maggie is alone up there..
That was very impressive! Instant switch to "we'll cover you - don't worry"
All things considered, she held herself together pretty well!
that ATC lady is 200% professional, it was almost just another day at the office for her .... in the meantime the rest of us are looking for a second box of tissues lol
I agree. The whole job description is to keep people in the air safe, whatever it takes and her approach (no pun intended) was perfect!
@Harley Ian What did she do that is exclusive to women? Seemed like she just did her job, no more no less.
I love how EVERYONE involved switched to parent mode when they learned she was 17 years old.
The aviation industry is VERY protective of students, young students even more so.
when did she say her age?
As soon as she says “Alright, looking for traffic” you can tell she gets her confidence back. She knows in that moment she’s a real pilot. She’s gonna do whatever she wants to in life.
that's the moment, yes
Totally, she's a pro 👏
Agree 💯
If that landing gear is retractable, the lone wheel should’ve been brought up
@@guysumpthin2974 if it was retractable it wouldn't have been out already. So obviously it isnt.
1:29---The terror in her voice when she says "okay" breaks my heart every time. So glad she landed safely.
As soon as I heard that I immediately started to worry about her. But she proved me wrong with performing a textbook emergency landing.
@@jimgreene68 Its like every pilot says there is nothing routine about any emergency landing, sure we train for it as much as possible but once your in the situation it becomes something totally new, especially for an inexperienced pilot such as Maggie, that being said she did an excellent job flying the airplane and handling a situation that no pilot would ever want to experience, and it shows she had excellent training by landing that plane in one piece. Way to go Maggie, i would be happy to fly with you any day :).
@Michelle Green Why do you keep harping on this in every thread?
@@NoriMori1992 Why do you keep reading it!!
she became more calm and even confident as time went on
Received a note today asking whether Maggie is flying again. I’m proud to say that after a bit of a break Maggie got back into the same plane (with a new wing and right main) and re-soloed. She’s pretty close to finishing up and getting her license even with all the craziness going on this year.
I can’t believe two years have gone by and we still receive notes weekly. I would again like to express our appreciation for all the kind words and encouragement you have expressed. The aviation community is a special place - there are 5600 comments that are examples of how special it is. Thanks again
Maggie’s Dad
Fantastic news! Thanks for the update.
Bro I don't care if she was 17 at the time, I hope you gave her a beer or 2 later that night. She fucking earned it lol.
Good for her, you must be proud.
Blesses
Hey Walt, I hear the panic in her voice and it's painful. Absolutely painful. I know it's years later, but man, i hope she's never as scared again.
That wobble in her voice when she said okay almost broke me. 17 years old and she managed to hold it together is amazing. I hope she is incredibly proud of herself.
I'm not ashamed to admit that I felt the same.
Watching this video years later, but as a father to a daughter, the moment she said "Okay" in that scared voice, I got extremely emotional. She did amazing and it's great to hear she continued to fly.
I cry that sweet girl so scared and so was I good going maggie❤️
Great job
I can't even imagine the feeling
same
I did too brother!! I had tears for a second….
She calmed down a LOT once she heard HER Instructor come over the radio. That's a sign of a fantastic instructor. She had complete confidence that he'd get her down safely. Good stuff and she did a great job!
Also, as far as emergencies go this is pretty decent one to get as a student, plenty of time to think and work out a game plan, it's light and the weather wasn't turning. You can't stay in flight or fight forever so once her brain realised it wasn't immediately in danger things will ease up. And then hearing her instructor will feel like a safety net and give you much needed confidence.
i'm also impressed how quickly ATC was able to get her instructor on board, something that doesn't seem to be mentioned in the comments
I’d let Maggie fly my Mom!
Lord, please give me the confidence in You that she had in her instructor! Amen
I'm surprised there isn't a requirement to have an instructor ready on comms for a first solo. If the student contacts the instructor for any help then that solo shouldn't count but they should have the immediate option to talk to their instructor.
1:21 I love how this Lady went into MOM MODE immediately. Great ATC controller.
The Controller did absolutely perfect 'Take over control' classical and she deserves recognition for this too.
@@terryofford4977 Not nearly enough respect for that woman. Just her tonality and cadence, my god. Good shit!!
@@craigsimpson535 'No matter what's happening, your first and most important job is flying the airplane' Maggie nailed it.
I think it happened at 0:43 once she heard the wheel had come off. The way she said "roger" was like she was mentally rolling up her sleeves. What a boss.
@Peter Evans ATC stands for Air Traffic Control, not Air Traffic Controller. People refer to an ATCS as a "controller" all the time. Go back to your little corner and settle down.
Her little scared “okay” made me snap back to realizing this is a child in such a dangerous situation and it really hurt my heart. She did a wonderful job staying as composed as she did, she’s got a bright future ahead. This goes to show no matter how old a teenager is when they get into tough or dangerous situations they are still a child who needs help and guidance. Glad she had all those people behind her and her skills once she was assured that she could do it by her instructors. They believed in her too, you can tell by the way they spoke. Great job!
You shouldn't care, f.
17 isn't a child
Honestly.. people need to wake up and stop treating younger folk like they are helpless and incompetent. Treat them that way and that is what they will be.
@@NoNo-fy3kr 17 is a child. A child has far more definition than just being helpless. No body treated her like she was helpless and incompetent, my god.
@@NoNo-fy3kr nobody treated her like she was incompetent...? She was a student doing her first solo and lost her gear. That is very stressful for anyone let alone a student on their first solo, and also a minor ontop of that. She was clearly very scared but kept it together and handled it like a pro.
I am so proud of u maggie
When her voice broke on the radio I almost started crying immediately. I have three kids, two very close to Maggie's age when this happened. An adult staying calm in this situation is incredible, but for a young woman to keep it together and do what she needed to do is just inspiring! I was so happy to read the comments by her father that she's still flying to this day! The instructors and ATC did a fantastic job at helping keep her calm. 👏
I cried immediately when she spoke. My boys are 17 and 20. But Maggie, and everyone involved, did great.
When that first shaky “okay” came through I could imagine the ATC just wanting to fly up there and give her a hug!!
@@skgerttulawow you have two adult kids
@@phantomjosh2148 Is that sarcasm or genuine surprise... I'm confused. lmao
@@skgerttula just saying because I’m your kids age (I’m 17) so yeah
0:45 - Can we take a moment to appreciate this unnamed guy, who noticed the gear fall off and immediately informed the tower? If he hadn't noticed, or hadn't said anything, no one else might have noticed until it was too late to plan out a landing, or maybe even until Maggie landed in Portland and found herself inexplicably careering off the runway.
Underrated comment and underrated radio call by that guy
I spent 20 minutes in a search box with the video on pause trying to figure out who/what "Wacco" is...to no avail.
Kudos to the unnamed guy.
Remember. If you ever find yourself in a cockpit, you always look out for your fellow fliers. This is the way.
@@cdubbleyoo It is spelled "WACO" but pronounced as you hear in the recording. It's a type of single engine airplane that was originally manufactured in the 1920's and 1930's, then resurrected in the 1980's.
Tower: "Your right main fell off, say your intentions."
Maggie: "Intending to hire a different mechanic."
😂😂😂😭
lmao
This!!!
I still don't understand how this happens.
Lol, underrated comment
She had an emergency that many pilots have never had, and with the support of a traffic controller who knew immediately she was talking to a student pilot, to her instructor who ran to help when he heard her in trouble on the radio, she, all alone in that cockpit, landed her plane safely, but the first few teary 'okays' broke my heart and made me tear up. Your pilot parents are so proud, and grateful you're here to tell the tale
I imagine her instructor John was waiting for her at the original destination. As a teacher myself of just this age of student, I can only imagine how fast he drove to get to that ATC Tower once he heard his girl was in trouble. Everyone in this video was just masterful in how they helped Maggie get this done. And Maggie herself was the most amazing of all!
I think I heard that John was in another airplane with another student, heard what was happening, landed and ran to the tower and helped.
@@coreymcdonald7745 yeah that makes sense
@@kevinscottbailey8335 hahahaha
Maggie was great, ATC was great, but let's give that guy who identified the main gear problem some major props
yeah, as a tower operator, great job of calling that one. He may have saved a bad deal that day..and in the final analysis...it works so nice when everybody helps.
Right?! Good eye!!!!!!
No pun intended
No doubt!!! Good call!
Pun intended? You said props
Bro, that wobbly "Okay" is absolutely shredding me
That’s the initial panic when you don’t know what’s gonna happen, I feel that a lot, the bravery and composure she had to make a joke a few minutes later is the definition of strength to me. Being able to go from panic to handling it take a lot of will power and she had the skill. Absolutely impressed.
It gave me a tent pole. Is that bad?
@@User0000000000000004 yes
@@User0000000000000004 🤣🤣🤣🤣. That's fucked up. Well done.
@@User0000000000000004 time to find a therapist
I cried listening to this and I'm a grown man. 35 years old. It brought tears to my eyes not just because of hearing the fear in her voice and knowing what she was going through but also because of just being so proud of her.
Most people who know me would tell you that I'm considerate a man with quite a rough exterior. But kids they are my weakness without question. Whether they're mine my nieces and nephews my neighbors or somebody else's that I've never met before, it doesn't matter.
Well done Maggie we're all so damn proud of you, Glad you're okay.
ATC was all business-- Say your intentions... Then she became aware as we did and had the same reaction while staying professional
@Jason Muska How can I make this about me?
@@stejer211 Get lost
@@noahway13 Read the OP again and count the I's and My's. It has nothing to do with te video and is all about him.
And you fell for it.
@@stejer211 You need help. He was describing how it made him feel-- it touched him. As it did me. And that is a big plus to people in this lonely world. It's like telling about your trip to the art museum--there are certain ones that 'clicked' with you. He was actually giving the video a complement, saying that it was touching.
You must be a millennial. The only talents they have is being negative, and hating, and calling anything Cringe and Awkward and you all seem to make a game of finding fault.'
If someone went to see a comedian, and they said, because of the jokes, they wet their pants and almost cracked a rib, would they be making the statement about them? Go be a hater where the weak minded will fall for your stupid BS
As a father to 2 daughters…that sound in her voice brings tears to my eyes. The instructor and the tower did an awesome job handling this and congrats to Maggie for handling this situation like a true professional.
Me too, brother.
Her tiny little scared voice😭😭 “alright.” Poor thing. Did a great job!!!!
I wish I could give 1,000 likes to this comment. I thought the same thing throughout the whole situation. What a girl!
Being a father of 3 girls I can truly relate to this. Bless her soul! Love this girl!
@Elijah Craig Its too much
In my opinion, she was no more scared than anyone would be in her situation. Her voice may have projected her emotion more than someone older or more experienced, but that didnt mean she wasn't in control of the situation and competent. Young poor scared female? yes. But first and most important: GOOD PILOT!!!!!!
Juke : Yeah she did!!! Somewhere I read: The definition of courage is like being a bull rider, you’re scared to death but you still climb on his back. Maggie was awesome!!! So proud of her!!!
Tower: "Say your intentions"
Me: "I want to go home"
me: I want my mom!
Tower: "Why do you want to go home Rojk?"
Rojk: "Are you on drugs? ARE YOU FREAKING ON DRUGS??? WHY DO I WANT TO GO HOME?!"
Tower: "Say your intentions"
Me: "Can I get a different mechanic!?"
But what if airplane is the home
"Say your intentions?"
"Maggie" "Well I'd like to have a plane with all it's parts still attached."
My God, I’m not a pilot but her voice plucked at my heart strings. She’s very brave despite the frightening situation.
It plucked at my something.
even at 17, she could've done the safer thing: stay on the ground and wait until her plane got fixed.
Ok bravr young pillt
Maggie did a great job, but let's also commend that flight instructor. He brought her from panicked girl to confident pilot in less than 30 seconds with his excellent coaching style.
Well said.... Great job by all involved !!!!!
even at 17, that's way to stressful for someone like her. ☹ The safest thing she should've done is stay on the ground after exiting the plane so maintenance can look at it, then install a replacement-if one is in stock before she can taxi down runway 9 (full-length) and depart. In most states, the legal age to apply for a pilot's license is 18+ so, the other thing she could have done is wait til her next birthday.
@@Belchmaster41 For airplanes (and helicopters), the FAA requires students to be 16 years old to solo and individuals to be 17 years old to obtain the private pilot certificate. That applies to all 50 states.
Also the ATC lady did a great job too. Kept her calm and was reassuring while also giving clear instructions and making sure everything went as it was supposed to until her instructor could take over.
John is fucking awesome
*I must admit I nearly cried with this...*
Aviation is empathy. Aviation is helping others. Congrats (and also thanks) to Maggie, Instructors John and Greg and the Air Traffic Controller for showing how we all should act in these situations. Captain Maggie, you kept calm, you flew your aircraft and you did bring it down safely. Good job!
After seeing all of the bad crashes (and trying to learn from them), I'm very happy to hear this. Surprised that a runway light went through the wing like that. Hope she continues past this. This fellow Warrior pilot suspects she will make a great pilot.
Completely agree with the emotion on this one! I remember taking my first solo last year at 21 years old and i have to admit im not sure i would have handled this half as well as this poor girl did. Way to go Maggie!
hehe yeah i was choked up a bit...only after she landed. hehe. Wtg Captain Maggie.
no one know how would act till we have something like this, and she did great
You and me both. Great job Maggie. I hope you keep flying. We need more women like you flying.
The woman controller is a true professional. She was very supportive and encouraging, and it's so nice to see that. Maggie, phenomenal job dealing with this! I hope you have many happy flights!
She was so good
I loved loved loved how at the end the other people on the channel (don't know the technical term) all gave her a shout out. Must have been heart breaking and ultimately relieving to have heard the whole saga.
@@headoverheels88 Frequency :)
I’m really impressed by the way Captain Maggie got her confidence back. Her nervousness was completely normal, but the way the controller put her in control by going on circles is amazing. This is a masterclass on how to react in an emergency. Also, this is great to hear other pilots at the end sending kudos to Maggie. Really supportive.
Great job Maggie!
4:41 seems like the point where all her confidence is back, and her inner voice said 'Just fly the aircraft, Maggie. You've got this'.
- Your right main fell off, say your intentions.
- That wasn't intentional.
"Roger that Tower, Intend to soil my breeches and cry for mommy, over."
What that means is the tower is asking her what she wants to do about it...how she intends to deal with it.
@@karenkirkpatrick6438 wooooooosh
@@karenkirkpatrick6438 This is a standard question for a pilot in case of emergency. For example, a pilot can say: I going to dump fuel, or I'm going to go back to the airport, or give me the vector to somwhere.
it's just how they communicate
I'm a retired com pilot, those first 2 ok's just stabbed me in the heart. she will be a great pilot
Correction,She IS a great pilot!
Your are correct, the first 2 ok's hit me hard also.
Almost made me tear up. Wild what that can do
@@mattfisher5195 The power of tone and context. Her "Okay" had so much fear and uncertainty in it you'd have to be heartless not to feel for her in that moment
@@Teh_Random_Canadian That's why the traffic controllers and instructor having such a confident and calm voice is so important. The way they spoke to her had a huge effect.
The thing is the more times you re-listen to this, the more you can pick apart where every single person on the ground is genuinely terrified, almost to the point of thinking the worst but having to say anything and everything to sound professional and keep her calm. Those are some world class professionals right there!
Her shaky voice almost had me in tears. Poor little thing was terrified. She did so well! I’m so proud of her!
It's going to be hard to scare her again.
Holy shit that first terrified 'okay' almost made me start sobbing.
My heart sank. Then I looked at my 13 y/o daughter (her grandpa flies) and started crying for Maggie. She needed a hug
Taurous I didn’t resist it lol
I didn't think I was gonna cry today lol
No almost here.
Same.
As soon as instructor John got on the radio, you could hear Maggie's voice calm down considerably. He must be an earth angel.
It seems she did a lot of her training with John. His familiar voice calmed her down and allowed her to focus on landing the aircraft.
Is it me or does John sound a little like Howard Stern???
@@redryderaus Almost like John was in the right seat!
100%
Student pilots have a ton of confidence in their instructors - by the time you’ve solo’d like that the two have probably been through plenty of good times and plenty of mistakes that she’s learned from. Hearing that guy come on the radio must have been incredibly comforting.
Cockpit PA: "Hello! This is your Captain, Maggie"
Me to passenger next me: "It's Maggie! We can relax the whole flight!"
Totally 👏
as an instructor i hope my students never have to encounter this but i hope that if the situation did arise i would be able to talk them down safely the same way that john did. fantastic job by everyone involved
👏👏👏
Maggie: *Says "Okay." in a scared voice*
Literally every adult: *Maternal/Paternal instincts activate!*
I almost cried just hearing that
Yup, instant trigger for “we must defend her at all costs” mode
@@AnjaFourie same, teared up a bit
In tears for this sweet young lady.
Who is choppjng onions?
"State your intentions"
A better mechanic
NO SHIT!
It's technically the pilots responsibility to make sure everything on the plane is functioning and ready to go. If something isnt, then u solve the problem yourself or get a mechanic.
Eh, it's a student pilot with a plane that probably belongs to her flight school.
theMike97_ yeah and things never break that can’t be seen right? SMDH.
State my intentions? I intend to kick some ass as soon as I land.
Never cried this much to a UA-cam video before, omg. Those first brave 'OK’s' as the thought of the lurking danger creeped in, destroyed me. Hurt to hear that soft voice so broken. SO HAPPY Captain Maggie is alive and well, and all those pilot cheers in the end, and the positivity in the comments, are insanely well deserved. 🏆🥂 Wishing her all the best the skies can offer, and you WILL have a stellar career in aviation! And the same goes for the amazing ATC and instructors. Well done. 🙏 -From Finland, another once-student
True
Same 👏
Everyone involved in this is absolutely incredible. Maggie, John the instructor, ATC woman, all top notch. Glad Maggie had a team around her to get her through this. Keeping calm through a situation that can rightfully panic anyone, she's going to be an awesome pilot (if she's not already)
Every single person mentioned in this video was a pro. We're lucky to have them
Well, everyone except the maintenance team or whoever is supposed to be making sure the landing gear stays attached to the aircraft.
@@tee4222 I believe that would be on her, pre-flight maintenance checks should be done by the owner or operator. Though things happen, in this case it could have been something faulty that failed from the manufacturer thats not usually inspected, or just a freak accident in general.
@@RYVENANT I’d imagine there was a pretty thorough investigation done. I was in a Pilatus that had a windscreen failure once and both the faa and pilatus didn’t rest until they could determine a cause.
When you're 17 and you've already stared down death and told it to get lost, it all gets easier from there, Maggie. Great job! That was amazing!
even at that age, flying for the first time can be VERY scary. One thing most pilots will tell you is that it's extremely tricky to land right in the center once you descent from about 40k feet
that can also be very challenging when you are low on fuel and need to radio tower with a MAYDAY (some have to say it 2 or 3 times, so ground crews can get trucks rolling if needed)
I had a two grand mal seizures in my jr year of high school at the age of 16 and 17
one happened while I was in school scaring the crap outta my teachers
I dont think that was a life or death situation as long as you land with the wings level and at a good speed you will be ok
@@Belchmaster41it's customary to repeat "mayday" or "panpan" calls three times to ensure that the ATC hears it. One or two calls might be swallowed by static of by heterodyne (when other aircraft in range transmits). But if one repeats the call three times, it's highly improbable all three will be lost.
Maggie, amazing work! I'm 35, I'm a Captain at a regional airline and I've flown with every personality type you can imagine. I cried at the end when you pulled this off. I hope you're still flying. You stayed focused and flew the wing, you didn't let the aircraft fly you. You have guts, and without meeting you I know I'd be lucky to have you by my side in a stressful situation. You also have amazing instructors. I could hear your training and confidence come through while listening.... You are built to be an aviator, you have a bright future.
I saw another video where she did her first flight after the incident. She wants to be an Air Force pilot.
@@deeanna8448 and we as a country will be lucky to have her and great full. Amazing young lady. Absolutely amazing.
Amen!
@@deeanna8448 PLease post the link to that video. This young woman has nerves required to be a pilot.
@@doctoredable ua-cam.com/video/WCZLkgz9PKw/v-deo.html
I love the way her whole demeanor changes when she hears her instructor's voice and she re-gained all her confidence....great job by the ATC who has to be a mom! Maggie knows what she's doing - great job.
Why does the ATC have to be a mom?
@@HexenkoeniginVonAngmar the way she handled helping the young pilot showed there was a high chance she was a mother.
@@seeitsjay A woman can have incredibly high empathy without being a mother. My empathy is so high that I could never force someone to be alive. That's how much I care about people.
@@ranonampangom2185 Thats why I said "high chance"
I loved the part when the instructor told her the airplane doesn’t know it lost a wheel so fly as normal. So cute! When you touch down, it’s gona pull to the right. Etc. How calming for Maggie to have his voice talking her step by step. Great job Maggie.
If I'm ever on a plane and hear the words "I'm Maggie, I'll be your captain today" I'll know I'm in safe hands.
Superb landing, 17 years old first solo with a gear failure!
Dumb comment
@@rfi-cryptolab4251 thanks for that insightful and well structured argument...
@@CJWRacing
You're welcome.
ChrisWallBoxing j
@@rfi-cryptolab4251 Well, aren't you a special little princess.
When Maggie heard John, I can hear the relief in her voice. The next occasion she replied to John, her voice had acquired confidence and "can do" attitude. I want to give a personal praise to Instructor John, it's clear that you cared _and_ taught your students well. I'd gladly entrust my child to learn to fly with you.
Also to Maggie: You're a great aviator. It's in your blood. See you in the blue skies!
Agreed - I feel like I need an "Instructor John" to give me guidance through my daily life. Just listening to him made me feel more confident... and I don't even fly planes! Just need a voice like that to tell me what's what so I can get sh!t done :)
@@cobrakai3732 "Mr Kai, it's John. I need you to get out of bed. I know you realize it's 2pm on a Wednesday and so you're not feeling so great about your choices right now, but we're going to get through this. The first thing we're going to do is try to find your floor....it's probably somewhere under those clothes and pizza boxes. We've got plenty of daylight, we're going to get this done."
@@coma13794 This is actually quite motivational so thank you 😁
Awesome
You could hear her countenance change and her confidence improve when her instructor started coaching her. Great instructor and I’m sure she’ll be an awesome pilot. She’s getting some experience most student pilots don’t get to experience. I know it’s scary, but it may turn out to be something she may have to use in the future. Even bad situations can be a learning experience. Excellent job by all involved.
I am quite teary over here. And SO VERY PROUD of Maggie!! My son starts his PPL lessons next week and I hope his instructors are just like John and Greg. Well done team!!
I am a pilot with over 16000 flight hours in my log book, some of those as a fighter pilot, many as an airline captain. During those almost 2-continuous-years inside cockpits and flight decks I have had my share of in inflight malfunctions and emergencies, up to and including due recourse use of an ejection seat. I wish I could personally tell Maggie this: I don't think I would have behaved as bravely and competently as she did, had I lost a main landing gear on my first solo, over 35 years ago.
I agree
No you aren't, no you haven't, and no you didn't lol
@@neomeg2232 Eh? 🤔🤔
That's saying a lot. I thought I was the only one who started tearing up until I started reading all these comments. Boy, we have a soft spot for our daughters, don't we? Even if we don't actually have any daughters......
Well said sir !
All 3 people here deserve a tremendous amount of respect and gratitude. The Pilot does a terrific job landing in a very difficult and terrifying situation. The instructor shows his commitment and skill at the most necessary time for his student. And the controller's balance of compassion and professionalism was key in making this a successful landing. Congratulations to all for the best outcome possible!
Sitting outside, having a morning smoke, tears welling over.
This is the compassion and empathy I want to see between everyone. I'm so glad everyone came together to support this girl in need. I'm proud of her.
You know what, I know people will complain about the tears but wow.
Imagine, you are a student pilot, you've been doing great, and you care a hell of a lot about this. You are just 17 years old and in a normal solo training flight and suddenly you are handing the kind of thing that terrifies an amazing pilot. Suddenly you are in hold to destroy a plane that you are doing your best to take care of knowing this is gonna be on your record. You know you are not trained enough for this, you know this could be your death, you wonder about your friends and family.
This is goddamn bravery in a way that few will ever have the chance to show. watch her clear up and become confident as it continues. This is tear jerking to me watching it.
I think I had a tear in my eyes. At the end she did what she was trained to do and you could tell by her voice. Once she just had the landing to deal with she didn't have the fear. Her instructor did a great job!!
I would fly with her anytime!
I nearly cried when I first heard her terrified voice. I nearly cried when I heard the ATC calming her and she just replying a simple "alright" to everything. I nearly cried when her instructor John came on frequency (yes, open frequency. Nobody transmitted so that the instructor could use it his discretion to give Maggie necessary instructions) and I nearly cried - I actually think a few tears dropped down my eyes - when she landed safely, John congratulated her and gave the last instructions to leave the aircraft safely and everyone started to clap and other pilots congratulated her. As a pilot myself and I still hope I don't have to go through any of these in my life, this is aviation.
On my very first solo, lined up on final and about 45 seconds from touchdown, I had a big Sikorski hover taxi unauthorised across the runway, and had to go around. Shook the hell out of me, but the tower let me do a circuit or two to settle down before trying again. Our experience affects our reaction to the unexpected, I had none, and nearly panicked, but a great ATC helped me deal with it, and after that, I dealt with problems a lot better because I'd been there before, and losing Comms and flapless landings weren't as scary any more
@@joelwilliams8074 did you read his whole comment?
Same reason you find tires on the side of the road... or cars on the side of the road... mechanical things break.
To listen to her voice go from oh crap then becoming more and more confident through the process was great, then after she landed you could hear the happiness in her voice.
Good for them and good for her, handled like a champ!
I know it! Her first transmissions I was like " oh my God this poor girl"........by the time she was on final I knew without a doubt she was going to be fine!!!! Good job Maggie!!!
@@vonkiser You think this would have been presented like this on You tube if she wasn't.?
I've watched this video several times, especially when I need a "lift" to my day. Brava, Maggie. It never fails to amaze me what real teamwork can accomplish, and my hat is off to you, to John, to ATC, and everyone who contributed to this effort. The operative word here is "teamwork," and given the state of the world right now, such teamwork is needed more than ever. Spectacular work from all.
Team work is such a good way to describe this 👏
This is a real team effort paid off story.
As an Air Force recruiter for 22 years, I assisted many young people who had the dream of becoming a pilot in the world's greatest Air Force. I read somewhere here that Maggie had a desire to become an Air Force pilot. So she would need a recruiter like I was, to help her put together an application. I saw so many folks wanting to put their best foot forward to get picked for a pilot position. They would cobble together their character references, transcripts, awards, and other credentials, hoping the selection board would find them worthy, and I saw phenomenal people get passed over. Only the best are selected. I definitely never had anyone who could have simply included a link to a UA-cam video. This one would do it for me, I'm a big fan of Maggie and the other great aviation professionals who brought a terrifying situation to a successful conclusion, and I hope she has been able to realize that goal of becoming an Air Force pilot. None of the ones I ever recruited made me cry like this, though. Being scared is human. Acting professionally and calmly while terrified, that's heroic. ;)
A hero is not someone who never fears,
A hero is someone who, despite their fears, overcome that fear and act decisively.
"In the worlds greatest airforce". Lol do you ever look at yourself in a mirror? You are the commitant of most war crimes on the planet...
"In the worlds greatest airforce". Lol do you ever look at yourself in a mirror? You are the commitant of most war crimes on the planet...
@@benja1378 wtf is wrong with you child? Grow tf up!
Name a greater Air Force, and while you're at it, name an Air Force that has ever been a greater force for freedom and liberty. You know you cannot.@@benja1378
at 1:35 min when she says "okay" it just breaks your heart... so happy she made it ok...Kudos for keeping calm Maggie!
her parents let her become a pilot just like anyone can do, its a job just like any else and it has risks, she wasnt hurt, everything ended fine. Damn right she had good parents.
wtf hide your kids at home is the better option ?
Provocateur - you could say the same to parents whose child of Maggie’s age drives a car. No?!
@Provocateur jesus dude
no it's the "okay" immediately before that at around 1:29 that broke my heart first!
Student pilot solo, yea, there's a trial by fire for ya! The tower guidance was awesome, she remained exceptionally calm, and transferred that feeling back to the pilot.
JimsEquipmentShed I had an emergency on my first solo cross country as a student. The controller being calm helped a lot for me. Just the matter of fact way the controllers talk is very relaxing in the moment. Until one gets into a full out emergency you don’t realize how much they really help you. This is something this young lady will remember forever.
Her instructor still being at the FOB was a stroke of luck as well.
I can't imagine problems on a cross country, unfamiliar controllers would throw me off even more. But you made it. ;-)
A buddy of mine who flys for a major airline and flys mainly trans Atlantic flights described what Maggie had happen here... Imagine learning to catch a ball, you're doing great then you amp it up a notch and get somebody to throw you the ball much much faster, but this time when you catch it successfully, you open up your glove to throw it back and it's a freaking hand grenade with a pin pulled... now you HAVE to deal with it whether you want to or not and it's all on you with how it's gonna end.
gmctech hell of an analogy. Tell that pilot I agree with them.
If you have a student flying I think technically you're required to be generally available in case something happens to the student they can call you. Because it's your (instructor) ticket on the line if something goes wrong (if the student flies into airspace they shouldn't or some such).
But yes, great that they could get to the tower quickly and talk her through it.
That female ATC went right into momma mode. Awesome just awesome
I have a 17 year old granddaughter and those "OKays" just broke me up thinking of her up there on her own, she really held herself together, wow!
Love the two pilots at the end congradulating Maggie on her landing.
They spoke out of turn. The radio is not to be used for socializing!
@@pawpatrolnews I bet you are fund at parties?
It depends on the party. Funding social parties doesn't always work out well, but I always get a good return on investment when I fund political parties.
As a dad of an almost 17 year old girl, when I heard that first “ok” from her my heart broke. Even though I knew the outcome, I was holding my breath through the rest of the video! It was awesome to hear her voice go from terrified to calm as her training kicked in.
All parties involved did an amazing job. All the other pilots listening on the frequency congratulating her at the end was the cherry on top. So heartwarming.
I'm still crying
At the age of 17, you cant vote, you cant buy alcohole and you cant smoke. But you can fly a machine that can kill many inocent people on the groun. This girl whas not mature ore menthaly ready for a solo. It do not help with a cute woice.
@@hansolavrkkennordland9534 Jesus dude, learn to spell.
At 16 you can drive and put the same amount of people at risk.
@@SourPatchMoth Learn to spell norwgian, german and french. Then we can talk.
Precious child handled herself like a rockstar. Skills are off the charts. Great job sweet girl ❣️
Wow, incredible instructor. That’s who I would want training me. This is how ATC should handle this kind of situation, great job all around guys!
Controller: "Say your intentions"
Girl: (Terrified) "Can I circle back to land?"
Literally just teared up hearing this..
Same! after reading the title I thought it was not going to be this intense, but after that it hit me real quick the terror that it must be being in that situation.
Me too… I’ve got a daughter that age
I listen to a lot of this channel’s videos when I drive this one just had me dive into the nearest parking lot. Awesome composure and awesome instructors
Agreed, so did I.
I got my licence at 17. When i was doing my circuit (with instructor) flights i had a door burst open (warriors make a loud bang when the doors open even though its harmless) and it was pretty scary. I cant imagine what this was like for her. She deserves a medal the way she handled it
I am a mexican corporate jet pilot listening carefully this wonderful audio admiring Maggie's temper and control assisted by tower and the great instructor, maintaining all parties total calm, I cry a little bit to be honest 'cause I picture my daughter same age going through a situation like that. Congratulations to every single person involved in bringing this to a great happy ending. Wooooow. I wish I could give a hug of happiness to all of you guys. My respect you all.i
totally all combined they stayed calm which helped Maggie to be calm great job atc and john the instructor you are all amazing people
What! Mexico's got airplanes? Just giving ya shit.
@Peter Evans i think your incompetent they were all great not sure if you might hold a degree in stuopidology
@Peter Evans why would you say that?
Great post, Cap Tamayo! Spot on.
Oh god the beginning "okay's" she did were heartbreaking, glad she dominated this problem she faced. Incredible work by everyone!
Boyyyyy when she said “okay” my heart sank.
It hits you right in the heart, that could be my daughter or anyone’s younger sister up there. You really want to hug her in that moment. She did a damn good job!
John “Just do what you’ve been trained to do”.
This comment sums the situation up perfectly. Very well done all around.
When John started talking he actually calmed ME down too!
she sounds so vulnurable yet maintains the flying skills as good as any, the entire group effort is just wonderful
That first “ok” while she tried to hold back emotion tore me up a bit. I couldn’t be happier that she went rock star and put it down like a pro!
Just another pilot chiming in with the rest of them here... that was perfect. Everyone executed perfectly in this situation. Maggie flew the plane, the tower knew exactly the right tone, and the instructors taught her well. Also, let's not forget the pilot who spotted her gear falling off... boy was that fortunate. Great job, all.
Maggie definitely earned that “Warrior” callsign
@Rob, Do you realize Warrior is a Type of aircraft? The callsign stays with that aircraft,
@jadesluv please take note of the insane amount of irony in the joke/satire, I have given you an F on your assignment for being a total dipwad sack of shit, please try harder next time.
@@jadesluv pretty sure twas a joke buddy boo...
Yes Piper Warrior, you may be giving them too much credit saying the remark was satire
@@hazythats Alright, kinda rude which is not great, but also absolutely hilarious comment thanks for that
I tear up every time i watch this and hear her scared ''okay''... This video is good for bringing back empathy in me these days where humanity is nowhere to be found. Its some deep primal protective instict, i would risk my life in that moment to help her.
This video pops up in my feed a few times a year, and I end up more impressed with everyone involved each time i watch it. Tower controller, instructor, the captain, and even the rest of the traffic did everything perfectly
When the ATC realized this is a student, she does go into a momma mode. The girl needed to hear from a momma that she would be okay. She was terrified but did an amazing job. She already is an amazing pilot, the world is her oyster!
Maggie, pleeeeze fly for SOUTHWEST AIRLINES!!!
I heard that, made me teary. But, Momma mode is exactly what Maggie needed. Firm but clear and loving.
Totally agree. Made me feel good too. I was freakin loosing it.
When I heard her say "alright that's a good thing!" In that trembely voice I was like
That's the moment you realize you dident almost die because of the damage to the plane but ya feel as if you were to die from the heart attack Instead XD
It was obviously a mother/father combined effort. Momma made her feel better about the initial shock and papa gave her the tools to stay alive.
From a former Navy Pilot and father of a 17 year old daughter... Bravo Zulu Maggie! You were very brave and calm!
I got an "Apollo 13" feeling from this. She's all alone up there, but everybody on the ground is calm and professional getting her back safely.
Great work from the pilot who spotted the problem, ATC, the instructor and Maggie herself!
As a Special Forces Officer who faced death on multiple occasions my heart sunk when I heard Maggie’s trembling voice. To me this event was scarier than anything else I’ve experienced. So relieved that Maggie successfully landed an airplane and walked away. Hopefully she continues her training to become a great pilot. Maggie, I’m taking off my Green Beret for you!!!
Maggie I understand u have ur license Congratulations 🎊 Maggie u r fantastic🤩u got it made.a lot of people watching you hurrah for
How would this event be scarier than a Special Forces Combat event!🤔🤣🤣. STFU, and stop lusting after a young girl!!😂
@@johnstarr2326 Ah…, you are one of those “Quick to Speak but Slow to Think”. I understand that you have a condition…no arguments here!!
Thank you for your comments and your service sir.
Tower: "Your right main has fallen off, state your intentions"
Me: "How quick can you get a mechanic up here?"
"17 year old student remained calm and landed safely"
Well this should be a cool and chill watch. Can't wait to hear that calmness(and surely confidence)
1:29
Literally becomes as anxious as Maggie
Oh boy.
Maggie: "O-okay...(I'm gonna die, aren't I...)"
Lmao 😂
"I'd like to pause the simulation, please."
me: It smell's like shit in this plane..
Oh my gosh, having two beautiful daughter's myself, I basically melted when I heard this little girl's "Okay..." at 1:29 on the video. Courage isn't a lack of fear, courage is carrying on and doing what needs to be done in spite of that fear. My utmost respect to this courageous young woman!
yep, the first "okay" is basically a Turing test to determine if you're human. Turns out most of us are!
Adding that to my quote list
@@DaveWhoa what an amazing quote 👏
That’s true!! Must work through fear to execute the mission!
The fear in her voice is enough to bring a tear to anyone, glad she got it back on the runway unharmed.
I've heard this transmission several times. And the lady, when she responds with "ok" gets me misty eyed EVERY time! Heh
I'm so happy that the flight community is the way it is. Everything gets dropped when a pilot needs assistance. That's a reminder of the good in humanity that's often forgotten.
I'd been pretty pissed when I realized nobody filmed me land.
Same here 😩
Yeah, but it's nice to be ABLE to be pissed... nice she was still on the right side of the grass.
@@benebooksbookkeeping1194 Touché
I wouldn't have wanted that due to potential of the opposite outcome. I would have needed a shower and a change of boxers for sure. 😥
I'd rather they didn't film me shit myself thanks.
Instructor John is the man. She instantly calmed when he started talking!
I am so impressed with her skills, i would feel completely safe in a airliner with her at the controls. If she handled herself this well still in training, imagine her skills at the ATP level.
I came back to watch this after 4 years. Any updates on Maggie? I don’t have any children, but instantly maternal instincts kicked in. The punch to the gut with worry which then turned to absolute pride for this young lady is so impactful! Maggie and her instructors are awe inspiring. I can’t wait to be flown someday by Captain Maggie. What an honor that would be!
She went up with her instructor just four days later in a different plane.
@@owlivdejong5086 In the same plane repaired
@@taylorcooke3775Not in the same plane. There was too much damage and not enough time for the NTSB to release the plane for repair, have the repairs done, then pass inspections. The plane did fly again, but not 4 days later.
This happened at my home field, she landed not more than 75 yards away from my tie down, where i was watching the whole thing. Her landing was as smooth as can be, she did a superb job
Nobody got video of the landing?
You watched two Warriors land in tandem. That’s a sight!
I think that the tower and instructors being calm helped her land, but i think we need to also give some recognition to the guy that noticed the wheel breaking in the first place.
She just did what they told her to do. The skill is the people telling her what to do.
She did exactly what they told her to do, & I think you will find that's incredibly, unbelievably, difficult under that much stress... plus she flew the plane. in the situation I think that's quite heroic!
As of the ATC, they did OK but to ask "What are your intentions" of a pilot who is clearly still grappling what to do is maybe not the best idea, possibly some kind of suggestion as to what needs to be done may have been better, maybe there was a way of breaking the news in a way that is slightly less terrifying for the young pilot.
thats all well and good but if the other pilot flying a different plane didnt notify tower that her wheel broke off she would have had people she was unfamiliar with coaching her to land, some recognition is due for his part as well.
No, she probably would have crashed not knowing it was gone.
@@tigertalks1567 and I suppose keeping herself calm when she's terrified, trying to remember all the said "basic manoeuvres" in the midst of her fear, trying to remember all the things she needs to check and focus on, all while she's fully aware this could end very very badly, that all counts for nothing? That's really easy isn't it, just a walk in the park.....
Maggie does a good job with her skill and communication and I love the way the controller switches tones between pilots and situations. Great job ladies!
As a father of four, one of my girls is around Maggie's age, this got me tearing up. Mad respect and amazing job Maggie and the rest involved!
This is a perfect example of how things are supposed to work. Great job by all.
except for the wheel falling off . . .
Well yeah, but everything AFTER the wheel fell off
Good thing the front didn't fall off.
ua-cam.com/video/3m5qxZm_JqM/v-deo.html
She took off as a 17 year old girl student and landed as a mature young woman pilot ! Congrats Maggie. You just got the type of training and experience, money can’t buy. This experience will stay with you forever, in a good way and give you something most other pilots don’t have. Real-world, actual emergency situation experience.
That’s huge. I’ve been a pilot since the 80s and I don’t have it. Pilots everywhere are proud of you, well done !👍
You also learned something about yourself. You CAN do it. Life threw you a curve and you dealt with it. You will have a lot of people who will second guess how you handled this. And there will be lots of "what ifs" that occur to you. But, you landed in one piece. And walked away from it. That's what counts.
Well said!!!!!
Bob Mazzi - Exactly ! Well said Bob.
great comment
What a PHENOMENAL job by all involved. In the beginning, you could hear the intense fear in Maggie’s voice. She got calm and worked the problem. She continued to AVIATE, NAVIGATE and COMMUNICATE!! Strong work, Maggie! 👊🏻✈️
I've watched this a handful of times and it brings me to tears every time I hear John exclaim "Great job Maggie you got a lotta people cheering!" and you hear them all clapping. I get choked up from the relief and success. I also love hearing all the other people chime in and congratulate her.
Awesome video! I'd love to get my pilots license and make it a profession but finances won't allow it just yet haha.
One day!
As a Father of two girls, that "okay" was tear inducing.
sheesh, I don't even have kids and it got me weepy
I can't even imagine 😭