Wife takes over plane when pilot-husband can’t fly

DENVER (AP) — Authorities say a woman took over the controls of a small airplane when her pilot-husband started having trouble breathing and speaking on a flight from California to Colorado.

Ground controllers in Colorado and a Great Lakes Airlines pilot in another plane helped her guide the craft.

KCNC-TV in Denver reports the 70-year-old pilot recovered in time to land the plane safely in Farmington, N.M.

The couple was flying from San Bernardino, Calif., to Colorado Springs, Colo., on May 17 when it happened.

The station didn’t identify the people involved and specifics of the man’s medical problem weren’t available.

The Federal Aviation Administration plans to release audio and details of the event on later today.