The single engine aircraft that made an emergency landing on the Tiruchirapalli-Pudukkottai NH.
Credit: X/@hiravaero
Chennai: A single-engine training aircraft made an emergency landing on the busy Tiruchirapalli-Pudukkottai National Highway on Thursday, leaving people living in the vicinity in panic.
The pilot and the trainee pilot on board the Cessna aircraft, owned by Salem-based Ekvir Flying Club, escaped unhurt, even as the flight suffered damage.
It is suspected that an engine failure forced the alert pilot to land in Keeranur in Pudukkottai on the National Highway on Thursday morning. Passers-by and people living in the vicinity gathered in large numbers to take a look at the aircraft on the highway. The aircraft on its training flight was proceeding towards Chennai when its engine is believed to have failed, sources told DH.
As the landing of an aircraft bound for Karaikudi on a highway created a stir, police personnel reached the area. “People were surprised and panicked to see a flight on the highway. When they confirmed that both the pilot and his trainee are safe, people came near the aircraft and took a look at it,” a police officer said.
The sources added that the pilot was planning to land safely at the Tiruchirapalli Airport but had to touch down on the highway due to the emergency.
“An investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will ascertain the exact cause of the technical glitch,” the source added.
A villager said he saw the aircraft circle the area thrice before landing on the highway. “We heard a huge sound and we panicked when we saw an aircraft flying very low. We saw fuel leaking from the aircraft,” the villager added.