A dramatic video showed a small plane crashing into a car as it was forced to make an emergency landing on Interstate 95 in Florida during rush hour. The incident happened in Brevard County on Monday. In the video, the plane tries to make an emergency landing, starts rapidly descending, and then crashes on top of a car. Sparks were seen flying as the plane slid on the roadway, and then it came to an abrupt stop on the guardrail, while the damaged car was right behind it. Father and son Jim and Peter Coffey were in their car watching it all unfold. “Out of nowhere, that plane came down, and it was shock, yeah, total shock,” Jim said. A 57-year-old woman was inside the car the plane landed on.
Incident Overview
The incident occurred on Monday in Brevard County, where a small aircraft departed from Merritt Island, Florida, for an instructional flight. During the flight, the pilot experienced a loss of power in both engines, prompting a forced landing on Interstate 95. The aircraft descended rapidly toward the roadway, striking a parked vehicle that was positioned directly beneath the point of impact. As the plane struck the car, visible sparks erupted, and the aircraft slid along the asphalt before coming to an abrupt halt against the guardrail. Fire rescue crews on the scene reported that the 57‑year‑old woman inside the car sustained only minor injuries. The two 27‑year‑old men aboard the aircraft were confirmed by the Florida Highway Patrol to have escaped the crash without injuries. No other casualties were documented, and the roadway was cleared quickly after the plane came to rest against the guardrail.
Emergency Response
Immediately after the aircraft struck the vehicle, emergency responders arrived at the scene within minutes. Fire rescue crews from the local department were the first on the scene, where they assessed the damage to the car and the aircraft. The crews performed a rapid medical evaluation of the 57‑year‑old woman, who was later treated for minor injuries. The two men aboard the plane were also examined by the Florida Highway Patrol, who confirmed that they were uninjured. Traffic was closed on the affected lane of Interstate 95 to allow responders to secure the wreckage and to protect motorists from the sudden stop of the aircraft.
Witness Accounts
Jim and Peter Coffey were in the car at the time of the crash, watching the event unfold from the passenger side. “Out of nowhere, that plane came down, and it was shock, yeah, total shock,” Jim recalled, his voice trembling with disbelief. Peter added, “We saw it coming, and everyone on the opposite side of the road saw it coming, but, you know, she did not see it coming.” The Coffeys described how the plane’s descent was sudden, with the aircraft striking the vehicle before sliding along the highway and finally stopping against the guardrail. Their testimony provides a first‑hand perspective of the speed and trajectory of the aircraft, as well as the immediate reaction of the driver, who was unaware of the impending collision. The witnesses also noted that the driver’s reaction time was limited, as the plane descended at a rapid pace, leaving little opportunity to avoid impact.
Victim and Crew Status
The only person inside the car at the time of impact was a 57‑year‑old woman, who was later treated by fire rescue crews for minor injuries. According to the rescue personnel, she sustained no serious harm and was able to exit the vehicle unharmed. On board the aircraft were two 27‑year‑old men, both of whom were reported by the Florida Highway Patrol to have escaped the crash without injuries. No other casualties were documented in the incident, and emergency responders noted that the roadway was cleared quickly after the plane came to rest against the guardrail.
Official Statements
The National Transportation Safety Board released a statement indicating that the aircraft had departed from Merritt Island, Florida, for an instructional flight. The NTSB report noted that the pilot experienced a loss of power in both engines, prompting a forced landing on the interstate. “Following a loss of power in both engines, the pilot made a forced landing,” the board said. Meanwhile, the Florida Highway Patrol confirmed that the two men aboard the aircraft were uninjured. Fire rescue crews on the scene reported that the 57‑year‑old woman sustained only minor injuries. The investigation into the cause of the engine failure and the circumstances surrounding the forced landing remains ongoing.
Investigation Status
The investigation into the incident is still underway, with the National Transportation Safety Board and local authorities working to determine the precise cause of the engine failure that led to the forced landing. Investigators are reviewing flight data, interviewing witnesses, and examining the wreckage of both the aircraft and the vehicle that sustained damage. No definitive conclusions have been announced, and the investigation remains open as authorities continue to collect evidence and assess the sequence of events that culminated in the plane’s abrupt stop on the interstate.
Key Takeaways
- A small plane lost power in both engines and forced an emergency landing on Interstate 95 in Brevard County.
- The aircraft crashed into a car, sparking debris and leaving a 57‑year‑old woman with minor injuries.
- The incident is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board and local authorities.
Closing
The incident, captured on video, underscores the unpredictable nature of aircraft emergencies on public roadways. While the driver and the two passengers on the plane emerged without serious harm, the abrupt stop of the aircraft on the interstate posed a significant hazard to motorists. Authorities are continuing to investigate the technical failure that caused the loss of engine power, and updates will be released as more information becomes available.
The crash took place during rush hour, a period of heavy traffic. The sudden impact surprised many motorists, and the abrupt stop of the aircraft created a dangerous situation on the interstate. Fire rescue crews treated the 57‑year‑old woman inside the car for minor injuries. The two men aboard the aircraft were examined by the Florida Highway Patrol, who confirmed that they were uninjured. No other casualties were reported, and the roadway was cleared quickly after the plane came to rest against the guardrail. The incident was captured on video, showing the plane’s rapid descent and the sparks that erupted as it slid along the highway. Emergency responders arrived quickly and secured the area to prevent further danger to other drivers. The authorities are continuing to investigate.
