Garmin Autoland safely lands King Air in first real-world emergency use

Garmin’s Emergency Autoland system successfully landed a Beechcraft King Air 200 in Colorado on December 20, 2025, after the pilot became incapacitated, marking the first confirmed real-world use of the technology outside of testing or demonstrations. 

The aircraft, registered N479BR, was flying from Aspen-Pitkin County Airport to Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Broomfield when the system activated roughly 20 minutes into the flight. According to Garmin, Emergency Autoland assumed full control of the aircraft and executed a safe landing on Runway 30. Everyone on board was reported safe. 

Flight tracking data shows the King Air departed Aspen at 1:43 p.m. local time and landed at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan at 2:19 p.m. Shortly before landing, the aircraft began squawking the general emergency transponder code 7700. Recordings from the airport’s tower frequency captured automated voice transmissions declaring a pilot incapacitation and announcing the aircraft’s intention to conduct an emergency autoland. 

Air traffic controllers cleared traffic from the area and temporarily shut down the runway to accommodate the landing. The aircraft touched down normally, rolled to a stop on the runway, and shut down automatically. Emergency services responded after the aircraft came to rest. 

Garmin confirmed the event in a statement on December 21, noting that the activation was the first emergency use of the Autoland system in an operational flight. The company said it plans to release additional details at a later date. No information has been released about the pilot’s condition or the number of people on board. 

Emergency Autoland is designed to take over an aircraft if it detects pilot incapacitation or if a passenger activates the system manually. Once engaged, the system selects a suitable airport based on factors including runway length, terrain, weather, and remaining fuel. It then navigates to the airport, communicates with air traffic control using automated voice messages, and performs a fully automated landing. After touchdown, the system applies braking and shuts down the engines. 

Garmin first introduced Autoland on smaller piston aircraft, including certain Cirrus and Piper models. In August 2025, the FAA certified Garmin’s Autothrottle and Autoland system for select Beechcraft King Air 350 aircraft equipped with the G1000 NXi avionics suite. The first installation of Autoland on a King Air 200 took place in early 2024. 

The successful landing comes amid ongoing discussion in the aviation community about the role of automation in general aviation and turboprop operations. While Autoland is intended for rare emergency scenarios, the Colorado event offered the first real-world example of the system operating exactly as designed. 

Investigators have not released any findings related to the incident, and Garmin has not addressed online speculation about the circumstances that led to the system’s activation. For now, the confirmed facts remain straightforward: the system engaged, the aircraft landed safely, and no injuries were reported.The post Garmin Autoland safely lands King Air in first real-world emergency use appeared first on AeroTime.

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