Blind pilot guided to land by RAF

[Rockville]

A pilot who suddenly went blind while flying his plane at 15,000ft was guided in to land by an RAF plane.
A team was scrambled from the RAF base at Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire to help stricken pilot Jim O'Neill, 65.
He was flying a two-seater Cessna plane from Prestwick airport in Scotland to Colchester, Essex, when a medical condition caused him to go blind.
The RAF plane flew alongside Mr O'Neill and the crew shepherded him to their base with instructions over the radio.
Mr O'Neill, who has 18 years' flying experience, sent a mayday alert and attempted to land his plane near Full Sutton Airfield near York when disaster struck on Friday.
Despite the efforts of air traffic controllers he was unable to land the plane safely and the Tucano T1 was sent to help him.
Station Commander at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, Gp Capt Mark Hopkins, said: "The Royal Air Force has the best pilots and air traffic controllers in the world. This team effort from Linton-On-Ouse lives up to that reputation.
"Shepherding aircraft in this way is something we do from time to time, but this is a very strange case.
"I'm proud we could get him to the ground safely."
Mr O'Neill was checked over by RAF medics before being transferred to Queen's Hospital in Romford, Essex where he is believed to be seriously ill.

Story from BBC NEWS: Published: 2008/11/07 12:14:25 GMT