Airplane makes emergency landing on I-10 in Suwannee County, FL, then refuels and takes off to Cross City, FL
Photos courtesy of FHP.
Suwannee County, Florida - According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), at 4:02 pm on Friday, July 14, 2023, the Florida Highway Patrol Communications Center was notified that an airplane was on Interstate 10, near the 275 mile marker, near Live Oak in Suwannee County.
When FHP troopers, Suwannee County Sheriff's Office deputies and Florida Department of Agriculture officers arrived at the location, they learned that the pilot of a Cessna 152 airplane had made an emergency landing using the eastbound lanes of the interstate. When the pilot, who was headed to Cross City, Florida (about 50 miles away from the emergency landing location), attempted to switch from one fuel tank to the second tank, a supply failure occurred, which forced the emergency landing. After the plane landed, it was pushed to the center grass median until it could be refueled.
At approximately 6:22 pm, Interstate 10 was closed in the area, in order for the plane to take off using the eastbound lanes.
The teamwork between local law enforcement agencies and alert motorists allowed for the succesful landing and subsequent take off of the airplane, with no injuries or property damage.