Close call: Airplane lands on busy Florida street

By Gilma Avalos, NBCMiami.com

COOPER CITY, Fla. -- A small plane made an emergency landing on a busy Florida street on Saturday afternoon, officials said.

A 1965 Mooney landed on Sheridan Street near Douglas Road around noon after an engine problem, according to the Pembroke Pines Police Department. The aircraft was making its way to the North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines, officials said.

The pilot and the passengers were not injured but the plane's wings were clipped when it ran into some trees, police said.

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See photo, read the original report at NBCMiami.com

"It's a good day when an aircraft can land on a roadway anywhere, but especially on Sheridan Street, in the weather and the traffic that was out here and end up with no injuries," said Tom Gallagher, public information officer for Pembroke Pines Fire Rescue.

Authorities said the four-seater aircraft was coming down the eastbound lanes that were clear at the time. Once traffic began moving on the street, though, the pilot moved the plane to the median where it struck some trees, officials said.

"I was shopping at Publix and I saw the plane coming down and thought, whoah, that's freaky," said resident Steve Romney.

The plane was coming from Georgia, according to police. The last-minute landing shut down the eastbound lanes for hours as authorities worked to clear out the plane.

"It could have been catastrophic. The pilot used a lot of skill, he was evaluating the air space and his landing area on his way down," Gallagher said.

The incident remains under investigation.

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