A single-engine Piper PA-28 Cherokee aircraft made an emergency landing on Florida's Interstate 10 (I-10) on the morning of 3/8, after encountering engine trouble. On board were flight instructor Emily Shelton, 21, and a student on their first flying lesson. The incident occurred as the plane was preparing to land at Pensacola International Airport.
During contact with air traffic control, the pilot reported a dangerous drop in engine oil pressure and smoke in the cockpit. Moments later, the pilot further reported a loss of engine thrust. "We cannot make it to the airport; we are landing on interstate I-10. We are aligning with the road to avoid traffic," the pilot announced.
The moment the Piper PA-28 Cherokee landed directly in front of a truck on a Florida interstate on 3/8. Video: CNN, ABC
Dashcam footage from driver Eric Jordan showed the plane gliding down beneath a highway gantry, directly in front of his truck, before touching down on the lane ahead. "I saw the plane's shadow pass over my truck, so I slowed down; otherwise, I would have hit it. It was a miracle," Jordan stated.
The Escambia County Sheriff's Office confirmed the aircraft landed safely, with no injuries reported from the incident. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the event.
Flight instructor Emily Shelton, with over 1,300 flight hours, recalled on 5/8 that her main priority during the incident was to calm her student and identify a safe landing location. She mentioned practicing this scenario numerous times, never expecting to apply it in a real-life situation.
George Sigler, a former US Navy pilot and flight instructor, noted that the aircraft was still gliding at approximately 97-113 km/h. He added that even a slight contact with a highway gantry could have led to severe consequences.
Pensacola Flight School has used the Piper PA-28 for student training since 2022. Flight tracking data showed the aircraft had departed from Pensacola approximately 30 minutes prior for a training flight.
Thanh Danh (According to CNN, People)
