Small Plane Makes Emergency Landing on Florida's I-95, Collides with Car - Everyone Survives

New Delhi:

A small aircraft made an emergency landing on Interstate 95 in Florida on Monday, colliding with a car on the busy highway. The incident occurred on one of the major north-south routes along the eastern coast, which accommodates thousands of vehicles daily.

The Beechcraft 55 was piloted by a 27-year-old Orlando resident with another 27-year-old passenger onboard when it suddenly descended onto the southbound lanes around 5:45 pm. The aircraft struck a 2023 Toyota Camry driven by a 57-year-old woman. Remarkably, all three individuals involved survived with only minor injuries. The female driver was transported to Viera Hospital for treatment.

James Coffey and his son Peter, who were driving behind the Camry, documented the crash with their dashcam. The footage shows the plane striking the car, bouncing slightly, and creating sparks along the road surface.

"I was pretty terrified for the moment, thinking both of us could roll down that hill because there was an embankment," James explained to Fox News. Peter reflected, "We could have died that could have gone a lot worse. It hit me a day later that I'm really thankful it didn't end badly."

Following the crash, two local pastors, Annie and Bernard Wigley, quickly arrived to assist. According to authorities, "Annie Wigley pulled the driver from the vehicle while her husband, Bernard Wigley, recorded the chaotic scene."

Jack's Towing was dispatched to remove the aircraft from the highway. The company stated this was their first experience retrieving a plane from I-95 and highlighted that no jet fuel spilled, which prevented a potentially more catastrophic situation. Though the exact reason for the emergency landing remains unconfirmed, the towing company suggested a possible fuel shortage as the cause.

The Federal Aviation Administration will be conducting the primary investigation into the incident, while the Florida Highway Patrol continues its crash investigation, according to The NY Post.