Plane lands on Mississippi highway

Associated Press

PASCAGOULA, Miss.

The pilot of a single-engine airplane made an emergency landing on Interstate 10 in south Mississippi’s Jackson County on Monday, safely bringing the plane down and guiding it off the highway as traffic behind him slowed to make room.

It happened around 12:30 p.m. near Biloxi. The pilot, Rodney McKnight Jr., 24, of Auburn, Ala., told Gulf Coast news outlets that he lost power at 3,500 feet as he was approaching the Gulfport-Biloxi airport. He and a friend had left Auburn, planning to spend Memorial Day in Gulfport.

He said he first turned the plane back toward Alabama, but decided he didn’t have the altitude to glide back to Mobile.

He informed air traffic controllers. “I said, ‘Hey, Gulfport, I don’t think I’m going to make Mobile. I’m going to put this thing down on the road,” McKnight said.

Mississippi Highway Patrol Capt. Johnny Poulos told The Associated Press there were no injuries and all lanes remained open, although traffic was slowed by people taking a look at the plane.

The landing occurred between the heavily traveled D’Iberville and Ocean Springs exits. Poulos said troopers were directing traffic and awaiting Federal Aviation Administration officials. A message left with an FAA regional office was not immediately returned Monday.