Shortly before 9:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, a 65-year-old pilot from Michigan safely landed his plane on two eastbound lanes of Interstate 78 in Weisenberg Township, Lehigh County. According to WPVI, the aircraft had taken off from Solberg Airport in New Jersey and was headed toward Indiana when the pilot reported an engine problem while flying over Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania State Police stated that the pilot initially radioed that he did not want to land on the highway but quickly realized it was the only remaining option. Incredibly, he managed to bring the plane down without hitting any vehicles. Witnesses who saw the landing said it looked more like a scene from a movie than a real-life emergency.
"It was an Easter miracle," said Victor Machese, who was driving on the highway. According to him, the pilot kept the plane perfectly centered between the median and the shoulder lane, even though the aircraft spanned almost the entire width of the two lanes.
"He must have done the right things and stayed calm," said Galanti. That calmness may have made the difference between a happy ending and a disaster. The pilot and his 34-year-old passenger from New Jersey were not injured, and the same goes for those who were on the highway at the time of the landing.
Several emergency crews gathered at the scene to assist if needed.
"We don’t usually expect a plane to land on the highway," said Weisenberg Volunteer Fire Chief Justin Oswald. Nevertheless, their response went as smoothly as the landing itself. The crews eventually escorted the plane off the interstate to an airport in Allentown, while other emergency teams temporarily blocked ramps and exits.
The FAA has already launched an investigation into the incident. What truly matters is that the pilot remained calm and that everything turned out well in such an emergency situation.