Plane lands safely on turnpike
Monday, February 1st, 2010
By: Elizabeth Fiedler
efiedler@whyy.org
A plane has been removed from the New Jersey Turnpike, after the aircraft made an emergency landing Monday morning. Federal Aviation Administration investigators are looking into the odd incident that turned the Turnpike into a runway.
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FAA spokesperson Arlene Salac says around 7 o'clock Monday morning a small single engine aircraft made a precautionary landing on the northbound New Jersey Turnpike.
Salac: The information the FAA has is that the pilot had a low oil pressure indicator in the cockpit and chose to make the precautionary landing. It's very rare for an aircraft to land on the New Jersey Turnpike or any other major highway, but it does happen from time to time.
Salac says sometimes pilots in emergency situations will choose to land on a large hard surface, like a highway, because it is an area where they can land more safely. She says FAA inspectors are investigating the incident and will be interviewing the pilot.