Hero Pilot Punches Hijacker In Face, While Calling For Help

23-year-old pilot James Chandler has only had his pilot’s license for two-years, but that didn’t stop him from preventing a hijacking attempt, while landing his plane safely in a field.

The young Australian pilot was flying 82-year-old missionary Les Nixon aboard a privately chartered plane, when out of nowhere, Nixon attempted to take over the flight.

Chandler tells Fairfax Media, “The pilot said that the passenger started grabbing the controls, turning off fuel lines and turning buttons randomly on and off.”

As the four-seater Duchess aircraft flew over the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Chandler told air traffic control “”Pan pan, pan pan, pan pan… Bravo Foxtrot Papa… my passenger is trying to take over…”

Chandler goes on to report, “We… Woah… Woah… East… My passenger’s taking… engines…”

During that time, Chandler repeatedly punched the alleged hijacker in the face.

Eventually Chandler was able to land the plane in a field, and Nixon has since been charged with prejudicing the safe operation of an aircraft.

It should be noted that Nixon actually has 50 years of flying experience. Had he actually taken over the flight, he could have flown the aircraft to any position or target of his own choosing.

Here is a photo of the man who allegedly attempted to hijack the flight:

A safe, but scary ending for a flight that could have ended very differently.

Hero Pilot Punches Hijacker In Face, While Calling For Help