Small Aircraft Executes Emergency Landing on Florida Highway

WHO:

CNN - The pilot and a flight student were onboard the Piper PA-28 Cherokee.

CNN - Eric Johnson was driving a truck in the eastbound lanes of the highway during the landing.

WHAT:

CNN - A small plane made an emergency landing on a Florida interstate after experiencing engine failure.

CNN - The plane was on a training flight and had taken off from Pensacola approximately 30 minutes before the incident.

CNN - The pilot reported, “Our oil pressure is dropping down into the red and we do have fumes in the cockpit from the oil.”

CNN - The pilot stated, “(We’re) losing our engine. I don’t know if we are going to make the airport.”

CNN - The plane landed on I-10, avoiding highway signs and vehicles.

WHERE:

CNN - The emergency landing occurred on a Florida interstate, specifically I-10, near Pensacola.

CNN - The plane was preparing to land at Pensacola International Airport.

WHEN:

CNN - The emergency landing took place just before 11 a.m. on a Monday morning.

WHY:

CNN - The emergency landing was necessitated by a problem with the plane's engine, specifically dropping oil pressure and fumes in the cockpit.

HOW:

CNN - The pilot maneuvered the plane to align with I-10 to avoid cars while executing the emergency landing.

CNN - Video from a dash camera captured the moment the aircraft glided under a highway sign before landing.

(UPDATED August 4, 2026 07:41 UTC)

A small plane made an emergency landing on I-10 in Florida after experiencing engine failure during a training flight that had taken off from Pensacola about thirty minutes earlier. The pilot reported a drop in oil pressure and fumes in the cockpit, leading to the urgent decision to land on the interstate, where they skillfully avoided highway signs and vehicles. Dash camera footage captured the moment the Piper PA-28 Cherokee glided under a sign before safely touching down.