A small twin-engine aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing on Florida’s Interstate 95 near Cocoa after suddenly losing power, striking a car and leaving one person injured.
The incident happened on the southbound lanes near mile marker 201, where the Beechcraft 55 aircraft came down sharply and collided with a vehicle, according to Brevard County Fire Rescue.
Authorities said the aircraft, which was being flown by a 27-year-old pilot with a 27-year-old passenger on board, was on an instructional flight after taking off from Merritt Island. Both occupants of the plane escaped without injuries.
However, the plane crashed into a Toyota Camry driven by a 57-year-old woman, who suffered minor injuries. She was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment, Fox 13 News reported.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the pilot had radioed in about engine trouble moments before the forced landing. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched a full investigation.
Preliminary reports from the NTSB indicate that the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of power in both engines, leaving the pilot no option but to attempt a landing on the busy highway.
A dash-cam video capturing the dramatic moment of impact has circulated widely on social media, showing the aircraft descending rapidly before sliding across the roadway.
Emergency crews quickly secured the scene, and traffic along the busy interstate was disrupted for several hours as authorities examined the wreckage.