A pilot narrowly avoided disaster Saturday afternoon after a small airplane suddenly lost engine power while approaching a Michigan airport, forcing an emergency landing alongside a busy interstate.
The frightening incident unfolded October 10 near Bishop International Airport in Flint, where a single-engine aircraft experienced mechanical trouble during its final descent.
@todayshow A small plane was caught on camera making an emergency landing on a highway in Flint, Michigan. Officials say the plane had a mechanical failure and stalled before the pilot was able to land on the shoulder of the highway, missing all the cars.
♬ original sound – TODAY Show
According to the Flint Township Police Department, the pilot was preparing to land at the airport when the plane’s engine stalled, leaving the aircraft without power before it could reach the runway.
With little time to react, the pilot guided the struggling aircraft toward Interstate 69, bringing it down on the highway shoulder near the Interstate 75 interchange.
Remarkably, nobody was injured, and no vehicles were struck.
The pilot, who was the only person aboard, managed to survive the emergency without reported injuries despite landing just feet from passing traffic.
Dramatic video captured by a nearby driver showed the aircraft descending toward the highway as motorists continued traveling along the interstate.
“Oh my God, is this plane about to land on the highway?” the stunned witness exclaimed in footage shared by the Detroit Free Press.
Moments later, the plane touched down near the roadway, prompting the witness to shout in disbelief that an aircraft had just landed on the highway.
The unusual scene triggered an emergency response from local police and airport officials.
Authorities temporarily shut down westbound lanes of I-69 near Bristol Road, Exit 131, allowing responders to secure the area and investigate the landing.
According to Michigan Department of Transportation traffic reports, the closure began around 3:30 p.m. and continued until approximately 7 p.m., disrupting traffic for several hours.
Bishop International Airport later identified the aircraft as a DA-20, a lightweight, single-engine airplane commonly used for flight training and recreational flying.
Airport officials confirmed that emergency personnel assisted at the scene and that the unexpected landing did not interfere with normal airport operations.
“The incident has not impacted airport operations, and Flint Bishop Airport remains open and operational,” an airport spokesperson said.
Although the pilot’s quick response prevented injuries, investigators are still working to determine exactly what caused the engine to fail.
A loss of engine power is one of the most serious emergencies a single-engine pilot can encounter, especially when flying at a low altitude during an airport approach.
Unlike larger commercial aircraft equipped with multiple engines, a single-engine airplane has no backup engine if its only power source fails.
However, such aircraft are designed to glide without engine power, allowing trained pilots to attempt a controlled landing when sufficient altitude and a suitable landing area are available.
In this case, the highway shoulder provided an emergency landing location before the aircraft could reach Bishop Airport.
Flint Township police are working with the Federal Aviation Administration and airport authorities to examine the mechanical failure and circumstances surrounding the landing.
Officials have not released the pilot’s identity or announced a final cause of the engine trouble.
Despite the terrifying moments captured on camera and the disruption to highway traffic, the incident ended without injuries to the pilot or motorists.
For drivers who witnessed the aircraft descending toward the interstate, however, an otherwise ordinary Saturday afternoon turned into an unforgettable encounter.
Leave a Reply