Plane makes emergency landing on I-575

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Authorities say a small plane landed on I-575 southbound, south of Barrett Parkway on Sunday afternoon.

Cobb County police said the plane was on final approach to McCollum Field around 1:15 p.m. when it lost power.

The pilot saw a break in the traffic and landed the plane on the interstate. Cobb authorities said there were no injuries.

The situation prompted road crews to shut down lanes on I-575 southbound.

People driving along I-575 in Cobb couldn't believe their eyes.  One viewer sent Channel 2 Action News a photo she took as she and her family headed past a fixed wing single engine plane that landed on the interstate.

"You don't see that every day," said driver Roger Stephenson.

Cobb County police said the pilot was cleared for landing at nearby McCollum Field when his plane lost control. He tried switching fuel tanks, but that didn't help. So he had to land the aircraft in the middle of traffic.

Maurice Khano flies out of McCollum himself. While he hasn't lost power on the plane, he said the circumstances aren't unheard of.

"It just turns into a glider. Not a great glider, but it will still glide some distance, and you can usually land it very well," Khano said.

Khano added that the pilot should be commended for his efforts.

"It's always impressive when an airplane lands off airport and nobody's hurt," Khano said.

The plane is registered to a person identified as Jesse Smalley, of Kennesaw, but it is unclear if he was actually piloting the plane during the incident. The person who did take the plane declined Channel 2's request for an interview.

WSBTV