Small Plane Lands On Florida Highway, Clipped By Passing Truck

WESTON, FL — The pilot of a single-engine Mooney M20R aircraft made an emergency landing on a busy Florida highway Wednesday only to be clipped by a passing truck.

"We understand the plane was struck by a car after it landed," a Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson told Patch.

The incident happened shortly before 10 a.m. on a stretch of Interstate Highway 75, about 25 miles west of Fort Lauderdale.

Lt. Yanko Reyes of Florida Highway Patrol said the 45-year-old pilot experienced a mechanical problem with the aircraft that affected the engine.

"The pilot was forced to land the aircraft on Interstate 75 in the right emergency shoulder," Reyes said. "The pilot was able to perform the landing without affecting any of the traffic at the time."

Reyes said neither the pilot or a 60-year-old woman traveling with him were injured. The aircraft touched down at milepost 40.

"Once the airplane landed on the right shoulder, a small truck that was traveling in the right lane struck the left wing of the aircraft, causing it to rotate in a clockwise motion," Reyes said. "After impact, the aircraft came to final rest in the grass shoulder facing traffic and the small truck came to final rest in the right emergency shoulder."

Reyes said the right lane of traffic was blocked for a time until the aircraft could be moved from the highway.

FAA records show the plane is registered to DWH LLC of Naples, Florida. The FAA planned to investigate the incident.