KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A plane landed on an interstate in Lee’s Summit, the Missouri Department of Transportation said Tuesday.
MoDOT tweeted a picture of the plane in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 470 just past Douglas Street around 2 p.m.
MoDOT asked drivers to find an alternate route, saying the interstate would likely remain closed for two to three hours. It reopened around 3:15 p.m. after the plane was towed away.
Meanwhile, Stephanie Jackson, an onlooker, told 41 Action News, "There's not supposed to be a plane on the highway."
Many folks driving down I-470 in Lee’s Summit had to do a double take Tuesday after watching a twin engine Bonanza aircraft use the highway to make an emergency landing. MODOT said the plane’s left engine failed, prompting the emergency landing.
Ian Gorajewski watched the plane land while he was driving on I-470.
"I walked around the plane when he was still in the cockpit. I went like this [thumbs up] to make sure he was alright," Gorajewski said. "He gave me the thumbs back and came out of the door."
Gorajewski said it was "admirable" that the pilot landed safely and there were no injuries.
Also right behind the plane as it made its emergency landing was Nate Frazier, who recorded video of the aircraft carefully touching down on the pavement as cars slowly trailed behind it - watching in awe.
More than a dozen people gathered to see the sight for themselves, including Jackson.
"You have to understand, we're in a pandemic," she said. "We're trying to be outside doing things, sun doesn't shine, many weird things are happening. Now we have an airplane landing on 470."
Ryan Almquist said he was shocked to see the plane intact.
"I didn't expect to see anything," Almquist said.
The pilot also walked away unharmed. Lee's Summit Police Department Sgt. Chris Depue said the only damage was to a few signs that were struck as the plane made its landing.
"We see planes over going over our house all the time but nothing like this,” nearby resident Barb Turnbough said.
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