Off-duty pilot saves the day during mid-flight emergency.

An off-duty pilot travelling as a passenger took control of a Southwest Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Columbus after one of the pilots suffered a mid-air medical emergency. The aircraft returned to Las Vegas and landed safely. The FAA has issued safety alerts to airlines, pilots, and others about the need for continued vigilance and attention to mitigation of safety risks after a series of high-profile near collisions. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a series of serious close calls, including a near collision in February between FedEx and Southwest Airlines planes in Austin, Texas.