/ 25 March 2001

MR BEAN SAVES THE DAY IN AIRCRAFT DRAMA

ROWAN Atkinson, the British comic actor best known for his role as the accident-prone “Mr Bean” seized the controls when the pilot of his light aircraft fainted in the sky over Kenya, it was reported on Friday. Atkinson, 46, who does not know how to fly, kept the plane carrying his wife and two children on a steady course until the pilot regained consciousness, according to the Spectator magazine. The actor had chartered the Cessna 202 aircraft during a family holiday in Kenya a month ago. He and his family were being flown from Ukundu, a resort near Mombassa, to Nairobi’s Wilson airport, according to the Spectator. When the pilot passed out 16_000 feet in the air, Atkinson and his wife tried to revive him but without success. The magazine, quoting sources at the airport and friends of Atkinson, reported that the Cessna started to lurch from side to side and the nose dipped violently. Atkinson gingerly took the controls and managed to keep the plane airborne for a few minutes until the pilot came to, took back the controls and landed the aircraft. – AFP