21-year-old flight instructor lands plane on Florida interstate

A 21‑year‑old flight instructor safely brought a small single‑engine aircraft to a stop on a U.S. highway near Pensacola, Florida, after experiencing an in‑flight emergency. The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon when the pilot, who was alone in the plane, reported a loss of engine power and elected to land on the median of Interstate 10, a stretch of freeway that runs through the city’s western suburbs. Emergency responders arrived within minutes, confirming that the pilot was unharmed and that the aircraft sustained only minor damage upon impact.

Traffic on the freeway was temporarily halted while authorities secured the scene and cleared the wreckage, but normal flow resumed within an hour. The Federal Aviation Administration opened an investigation to determine the cause of the engine failure, and local law enforcement is reviewing the pilot’s decision to use the highway as an emergency landing site. No other vehicles were involved, and officials praised the pilot’s quick judgment in averting a potentially more serious accident.