DEL MAR, Calif. — A small airplane made an emergency landing on an interstate highway north of San Diego on Tuesday, Aug. 24, clipping cars, slightly injuring some people and causing a huge traffic jam, authorities said.
The single-engine Piper PA-32 had mechanical problems after taking off from Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport and was trying to land in a nearby field but instead went down in the southbound lanes of Interstate 5 near Del Mar shortly after noon, authorities said. It clipped several cars and came to rest partially on the center divider.
Two people in the cars were taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries, including slight cuts from broken glass, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The two people aboard the plane appeared to be unhurt, the CHP said.
Dane and Sarah Tribett of Austin, Texas, were in town to celebrate their eighth wedding anniversary when their Kia sedan was hit by the plane, although they escaped serious injuries.
“Glass shattered everywhere. All of a sudden we just see the plane in front of us,” Sarah Tribett told KSWB-TV. “We were scared out of our minds.”
“The people that were driving behind us drove by us after and let us know that it literally landed on top of our car,” she said. “There’s jet fuel all over the back of our back seat. All of my clothes are soaked and there’s just glass everywhere.”
Part of the plane’s right wing broke off and became lodged in the back of an Audi SUV.
The freeway was shut down for more than four hours until a small fuel spill was cleaned up and the plane was hauled away.
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I wondering can the person show us what sacred out our minds looks like that out body experience hurt can you tell us that
Don’t be an A-Hole Mr. Hickman. Haven’t you ever experienced a frightening issue that scares you beyond belief. Plus your English and punctuation leave a lot to the imagination.
So glad that no one was seriously injured in the crash.
A Piper PA-32 does not use jet fuel. It burns a leaded 100 octane Aviation gas.
I’m happy that no one was seriously injured in this serious situation. I can only imagine that all involved were thinking that they might be killed. It’s good to know that someone, OT, is familiar with the aircraft and the type of fuel it uses. How fortunate for the couple in the Kia that it did not ignite. They will forever remember their 8th wedding anniversary. Now they can tell their friends that saying “I do” the first time was scary, but celebrating the 8th anniversary almost finished us completely!