News Summary
A Piper single-engine plane made an emergency landing on Interstate 805 in San Diego, causing major traffic disruptions. The incident occurred after engine failure, but both passengers on board escaped unharmed. The California Highway Patrol reported significant delays on southbound lanes for several hours due to police activity and vehicle retrieval efforts.
San Diego – A small plane made an emergency landing on Interstate 805 on Saturday afternoon, creating significant traffic disruptions for southbound drivers. The incident, which occurred just after 5:35 p.m., involved a Piper fixed wing single-engine plane, tail number N8150J, owned by Vandelay Aviation LLC, based in San Diego.
The emergency landing took place in the southbound lanes at the Carroll Canyon Road exit. Fortunately, both passengers on board the aircraft exited without injuries, despite the tense situation. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that the plane experienced engine failure shortly before the landing.
In the wake of the emergency landing, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) indicated that all lanes of southbound I-805 were closed at the Interstate 5 split in Sorrento Valley due to police activity associated with the incident. A SIG Alert was issued following the crash, leading to delays for southbound travelers that lasted several hours.
According to data from FlightRadar24, the plane took off from San Diego at 5:04 p.m. and made its emergency landing just 32 minutes later at 5:36 p.m. Eyewitnesses reported that the aircraft performed several loops before landing near the center divider of the freeway, a maneuver that likely contributed to the pilot’s noticeable tension during the incident.
Initially, a tow truck was dispatched to remove the plane from the freeway. However, the first truck was deemed too small for the task, necessitating the call for a larger tow vehicle. In the meantime, traffic was redirected to the Sorrento Valley off-ramp, while CHP officers and other emergency responders worked at the scene. By 6 p.m., the blockage of southbound lanes was confirmed, and all lanes remained closed until after 9 p.m., when the area was fully reopened to traffic.
Despite the dramatic nature of the emergency landing, CHP reports confirmed that there were no injuries related to the incident, with all individuals aboard accounted for and safe. The cause of the engine failure is under investigation by CHP, although there were no immediate details available regarding the specific factors contributing to the incident.
This emergency landing highlights the unpredictability of flying and the potential risks involved for small aircraft. Incidents like this are relatively rare, especially when passengers are unharmed and the situation is handled quickly by emergency responders. This event serves as a reminder of the importance of aviation safety measures and the need for thorough inspections and maintenance of aircraft.
As investigations continue into the cause of the plane’s engine failure, the focus remains on ensuring the safety of air travel and the swift response of emergency services in the event of such occurrences.
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Additional Resources
- CBS 8 News
- Wikipedia: Emergency Landing
- Fox 5 San Diego
- Google Search: Small Plane Emergency Landing San Diego
- 10 News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Aviation
- NBC San Diego
- Google News: Aviation Safety Measures
- Times of San Diego
Author: STAFF HERE SAN DIEGO WRITER
SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER The SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanDiego.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Diego, San Diego County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Comic-Con International, San Diego County Fair, and San Diego Pride Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Diego County, plus leading businesses in biotechnology, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Qualcomm, Illumina, and Scripps Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
