Two people dead after plane attempts emergency landing on Florida highway

The small plane collided with a vehicle as it made an emergency landing on a highway in Florida, United States. Photo / AP

Two people have died after a small plane in the United States attempted to make an emergency landing on Interstate 75 in southwest Florida today, colliding with a vehicle and bringing traffic to a halt as a massive plume of black smoke rose into the air.

The crash landing happened near the Pine Ridge Rd exit in Collier County, just north of where the interstate heads east toward Fort Lauderdale along what is known as Alligator Alley.

Brianna Walker saw the wing of the plane drag the car in front of hers and slam it into a wall.

“It’s seconds that separated us from the car in front of us,” she said. “The wing pulverised this one car.”

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Walker and her friend spotted the plane moments before it hit the highway, allowing her friend to pull over before the crash.

“The plane was over our heads by inches,” she said. “It took a hard right and skidded across the highway.”

Walker said an explosion of flames then burst from the plane with a loud boom. Pieces of the plane littered the highway.

“It feels unreal, like a movie,” she said. “It was seconds between us dying.”

Two people died after a plane crash landed on a highway in Florida. Photo / AP

The Federal Aviation Administration identified the aircraft as a Bombardier Challenger 600 jet and said five people were aboard when the crash happened around 3.15pm (US time).

The plane had taken off from an airport at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, at about 1pm and was scheduled to land in Naples around the time of the crash, Naples Airport Authority spokesman Robin King said.

A pilot had contacted the tower requesting an emergency landing, saying they had lost both engines. The tower lost contact, and then airport workers saw the smoke from the interstate just a few kilometres away.

King said they sent fire trucks with special foam to the scene, and three of the five people on board were taken from the wreckage alive.

Collier County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Adam Fisher confirmed two deaths, but said he didn’t immediately know whether the victims had been passengers on the plane or were on the ground.

According to the FlightAware aircraft tracker, the plane was operated by Hop-a-Jet Worldwide Charter based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The aircraft had been scheduled to fly back to Fort Lauderdale today. Hop-a-Jet did not immediately respond to an email and phone message seeking comment.

A spokesperson for Ohio State University said the aircraft is not affiliated with the university, and they had no further information about it.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate, with the latter leading the investigation. One NTSB investigator arrived at the crash site today, with several more expected to arrive later in the day. They will document the scene and examine the aircraft, which will then be taken to a secure facility for further evaluation. A preliminary report about the cause of the crash can be expected in 30 days.