20-year-old pilot lands airplane on I-95 in Indian River County

No injuries reported

VERO BEACH, Fla. – A single-engine plane safely landed on a stretch of Interstate 95 in Vero Beach early Monday after the pilot had an onboard emergency, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Firas Awad H. Alghamdi, 20, of Saudi Arabia, landed the 2004 Piper Cherokee PA-28 about 1:30 a.m. in the southbound lane of the highway at mile marker 144 in Vero Beach.

Recommended Videos



Alghamdi, who took off from Fort Pierce, said the plane apparently ran out of gas, according to officials.

Alghamdi was the only person aboard the plane. No injuries were reported.

The FHP said the Federal Aviation Administration will review the landing.

The aircraft was loaded onto a truck and moved south to a rest area near mile marker 133. 

The plane is owned by Ari Ben Aviator Inc. of Fort Pierce.


Recommended Videos