Listening to the audio of the conversation, it doesn't seem like the passenger has no flying experience...
At minimum they must have spent significant time around aviation or be ex-military.
e: From another comment on Reddit
> Examples:
> The passenger knew what button to press on the yoke to transmit to ATC.
> The passenger knew aviation phraseology and phonetics “333 Lima Delta”.
> The passenger knew where the altimeter was and his altitude “I’m maintaining 9100 feet”
> Passenger was able to identify the transponder and enter a squawk code.
> Passenger knew what the vertical speed indicator was “I’m descending right now at 550 feet a minute passing 8640 feet”.
> My wife, who flies with me regularly, might get one or two of those items, but probably couldn't point out the transponder, much less enter a squawk code without instructions.
At minimum they must have spent significant time around aviation or be ex-military.
e: From another comment on Reddit
> Examples: > The passenger knew what button to press on the yoke to transmit to ATC. > The passenger knew aviation phraseology and phonetics “333 Lima Delta”. > The passenger knew where the altimeter was and his altitude “I’m maintaining 9100 feet” > Passenger was able to identify the transponder and enter a squawk code. > Passenger knew what the vertical speed indicator was “I’m descending right now at 550 feet a minute passing 8640 feet”. > My wife, who flies with me regularly, might get one or two of those items, but probably couldn't point out the transponder, much less enter a squawk code without instructions.