re: Could you land a commercial airplane in an emergency?

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Has there ever in history been an instance where someone with zero flight experience landed a large commercial aircraft, a modern one?

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I’d think a modern one would be simpler than an older one. Lot more blinky screens but more safeguards against screwing up something.

Would I need to use those flappy things?

I have no idea how you keep your composure during these discussions! Lol

No. Not once did I even touch a cable.

I always love to put mortals in the seat in the sim.

I can work a radio so as long as some smart fellas on the ground tell me what buttons to press, the plane will land itself and hopefully also stop on the runway. I’m going with yes

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I flew a Navy C-130 sim a while back, first touch and go was on a carrier on anchor in San Diego

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Not a fan of Navy C-130s, but a T&G on a carrier would be cool. I'd try to stick it. I know light weight I've done a stop and go in >1200'.

With today's modern airliners one could absolutely land and aircraft with coaching from air traffic control. They could easily walk you through how to program the FMC flight management computer and program the radios for an ILS approach.

Yes. I’m a pilot but only rated single engine land and high performance. But I’m instrument rated. So, regardless of weather, I could get in to the threshold in good shape. The tough part would be setting it down with my butt being 30 feet above the runway, or whatever it is. And then handling the turbines would be something I would have to get talked through ahead of time. I assume that I would have time to review the checklists.

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he tough part would be setting it down with my butt being 30 feet above the runway, or whatever it is

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I had the exact opposite experience in the last couple of weeks. Going flying in a light twin and flaring too high, finally touching down when the runway feels like my arse is dragging on the paint.