First real-world Garmin Autoland activation: King Air B200 lands itself after depressurization.

Garmin Autoland just crossed from theory to operational reality. On December 20, 2025, a Beechcraft King Air B200 autonomously landed itself at Colorado's Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport after a pressurization failure — the first real-world activation of the emergency system since certification.

Both pilots were conscious and capable of flying but chose to let the system complete the approach and landing in instrument meteorological conditions with active icing rather than hand-fly the emergency. That decision — trusting automation when the stakes are highest — signals a fundamental shift in how pilots might use autonomous systems as a safety layer, not just a last resort.

What happened

The aircraft, N479BR operated by Buffalo River Aviation, was repositioning from Aspen with two pilots when pressurization failed at 23,000 feet. Both donned oxygen masks.

Garmin's Emergency Descent Mode and Autoland engaged automatically, selecting Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (KBJC) as the diversion. The system descended autonomously, broadcast automated emergency messages on 121.5 MHz and tower frequency, flew the approach in IMC with icing, extended gear and flaps, landed on Runway 30R, and shut down engines.

According to LiveATC and a pilot who heard the communication at the time, a robotic voice over air traffic control communication can be heard saying, "Pilot incapacitation, two miles south… emergency Autoland in 19 minutes on runway 3-0."

The decision

Buffalo River Aviation CEO Chris Townsley clarified both pilots remained able to fly but chose to leave Autoland engaged because of compounding factors: IMC, mountainous terrain, active icing, unknown pressurization failure cause, and the complexity of disengaging once the system activated. Under FAR 91.3 emergency authority, they monitored and stayed ready to intervene. The system performed exactly as designed.