A small multi-engine aircraft crash-landed onto a busy Florida highway Monday night, colliding with a vehicle as the pilot attempted an emergency landing, authorities reported.
The Beechcraft 55 went down on Interstate 95 near Orlando after the pilot radioed engine trouble. While descending, the aircraft struck a Toyota Camry, scattering debris across the roadway and crushing the sedan against the median barrier.
The crash occurred along one of the heaviest-traveled stretches between Orlando and Cape Canaveral, prompting troopers to close multiple lanes as firefighters and paramedics responded.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the Camry’s driver a 57-year-old woman sustained minor injuries and was taken to Viera Hospital. Officials described her survival as “remarkably fortunate,” given the severe damage shown in images from the scene.
Photos revealed the aircraft broken apart across several lanes, with pieces of the fuselage strewn across the southbound side of the interstate. Despite the dramatic impact, the 27-year-old pilot and his 27-year-old passenger were uninjured and declined medical transport.
The crash caused significant traffic backups in both directions as crews worked for hours to clear debris and remove the wreckage.
Authorities confirmed the pilot attempted an emergency landing but have not yet identified the mechanical or operational issue that forced the descent. “What caused the plane to crash land on the highway remains under investigation,” officials said.
Images from the scene showed the aircraft perched partly on the concrete median, with debris including a dislodged wheel covering the roadway. Both sides of I-95 were temporarily shut down Monday evening.
The FAA will conduct a full investigation to determine what led the aircraft to come down during peak travel hours.
Monday’s incident was the second aviation emergency in Central Florida that day. Earlier, around 2 p.m., another small plane made an emergency landing on a roadway in DeLand near DeLand High School. Two people on board that aircraft were injured and transported to a hospital, officials said.
