A Beechcraft Super King Air 200 completed a historic autonomous landing at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Colorado after experiencing an in-flight pressurization emergency on December 20, 2025.

The aircraft, operated by Buffalo River Aviation, was en route from Aspen to the Denver area when it suddenly lost cabin pressurization at cruise altitude. As cabin altitude exceeded safe limits, Garmin’s Emergency Autoland system engaged and took full control of the aircraft, selecting a suitable airport, navigating an approach, and landing without any manual pilot input.

The two pilots on board donned oxygen masks and remained conscious throughout the event, and they exited the aircraft without injuries once it came to a stop on the runway.

Emergency response teams from North Metro Fire Rescue and the Westminster Fire Department were on standby during the landing but were not needed for medical assistance.

Garmin confirmed this was the first real-world activation and complete use of its Autoland technology in response to an actual emergency, marking a milestone in aviation safety and automation. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident to better understand the sequence of events and the system’s performance during the emergency landing.