PILOT TURNS ON AUTOPILOT SET FOR ZERO FEET

This incident happened back on January 11. The pilot of a Flybe Airlines plane from Belfast to Glasgow selected the wrong autopilot setting shortly after take-off. An inquiry into the incident says the autopilot was engaged when the turboprop plane reached an altitude of 1,500 ft, but then suddenly pitched forward and “descended rapidly” because the autopilot was set with a target altitude of – and you’re gonna laugh at this – ZERO FEET. The plane dropped 500 feet in 18 seconds. The 60-year-old pilot “responded almost immediately” to cockpit alarms and disconnected the autopilot. The plane then leveled off at 928 ft. Forty-four passengers and four crew were on board. The flight continued as planned to Glasgow and landed without further incident.
* Except for the wet cleanup in every seat.
* Some “Senior Moments” are funny. Some aren’t.
* This teaches us a valuable lesson – it’s never too early to start on your bucket list.
* Kinda makes you wonder – should an autopilot even HAVE a “Zero Feet” setting?
* You know, I pay good money for my ticket, I’d think some of that money would go toward paying the pilot to actually fly the plane.