A small plane with engine trouble was forced to make an emergency landing on a busy road in Parkland, Washington during rush hour on Thursday (August 1) morning. Washington State Trooper Clint Thompson was driving down the road when he noticed the low-flying plane losing altitude and attempting to land in the middle of the street.
His dash camera captured the heart-stopping moment as the pilot dodged oncoming cars while he attempted to steady the plane. He managed to direct the aircraft onto the right side of the street where it skidded to a stop at a red light.
"When he went by me, I could've reached out and touched the tip of his wing. That's how close I was to that plane," a driver, Dennis Diessner, told KOMO.
There were no reports of damages or injuries. Officials say the plane had a fuel system malfunction forcing the pilot to find a suitable place to land.
"He (the pilot) could see the straight stretch of roadway, and he knew he had to make an emergency landing, and he was able to do so safely," Washington State Patrol spokeswoman Johnna Batiste said. "It was a series of very lucky events. There happened to be a break in traffic, and the plane did not come into contact with any vehicles or pedestrians."