Jim O’Neill, 65 & an experienced pilot, was flying his Cessna over the north of England when he suddenly lost his sight
Ground controllers tried 6 times to talk him down, but it was hopeless
The RAF was called on for help
Wing Commander Paul Gerrard, 42, was in the air not far away, at the controls of his Tucano T1 jet trainer
He flew alongside Mr O’Neill – well, strictly he bobbed & weaved, zigged & zagged, to keep his 325 mph machine in step with the 125 mph Cessna
And, on the second attempt, Mr O’Neill landed safely, guided by the Wing Commander’s ‘Left a bit, down a bit’ instructions
Sergeant Egglestone of the RAF ground staff said: ‘You would think we were all jumping up & down in celebration, but actually it was quiet. There was just this big sigh of relief’
Wing Commander Gerrard said he was ‘just glad to be able to help a fellow aviator in distress’
Mr O’Neil, who could be heard on tape saying constantly during the manoeuvre ‘I am so sorry, sir. I just can’t see’ is in hospital & appears to be recovering his sight, the loss of which was due to a small stroke
