Pilot Lands Plane On South Florida Highway
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DAVIE (CBSMiami) - A pilot, out of fuel, landed his plane on I-595 Thursday morning, clipping a car in the process.
Scott Richmond was miles away from Fort Lauderdale - Hollywood International Airport when he was forced to land on the westbound lanes just before 9 a.m.
"In between your prayers, which you always get in there first, is you want to make sure you clear traffic," said Richmond.
Richmond, who's been flying for six years bought the plane just a couple of weeks ago. He said he thought about his twin 12-year old daughters and prayed he wouldn't hurt anyone.
"You always pick out pavement whenever possible as opposed to turf and then you pick out the widest stretch of pavement that you can and then you do everything you can number one to miss power lines. That's the biggest fear you have," said Richmond
Florida Highway trooper Sgt. Mark Wysocky said this may have been a first on I-595.
"I think we've had one on just about every roadway except 595." said Sgt. Wysocky. "This is the first one on I-595 and the first one that's actually struck a vehicle and it's amazing that more vehicles weren't hit at 8:45 on a rush hour."
Florida Highway Patrol shut down the highway for several hours causing major traffic delays most of the morning.
Richmond said he is thankful no one was hurt.
"That is my biggest fear. It's what happened to a friend, he woke up in the hospital. You don't want to take out an innocent person," said Richmond.
He says he had enough fuel for his trip from South Carolina to the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport but just as he was about to land he was re-routed. He says by the time he made it back, he had spent all his fuel and the engine stopped. He glided above cars until he was able to taxi on the safety lane and stop just short of 136th Avenue.
Federal investigators arrived to look at the plane and talk to Richmond. Shortly after noon, the plane was towed off the highway.
Just before he left, Richmond said, "miracles happen everyday. Don't give up hope."
