Plane Makes Miracle Emergency Landing on San Diego Highway

No injuries reported after single-engine plane touches down on State Route 67 in Lakeside.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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A single-engine plane was forced to make an emergency landing on a busy highway outside of San Diego on Saturday morning, but miraculously, no one was hurt. The plane touched down on southbound State Route 67 near the Winter Gardens Boulevard exit in Lakeside just after 10 a.m., with three people on board. All the passengers managed to escape without injuries, and no cars were damaged.

Why it matters

Emergency landings on highways are extremely rare and can pose significant risks to both the plane's occupants and drivers on the road. The fact that this incident resulted in no injuries is highly unusual and speaks to the skill of the pilot in safely navigating the plane to the ground.

The details

According to reports, the single-engine plane landed on the southbound lanes of State Route 67 in Lakeside, a community in San Diego County. The California Highway Patrol, San Diego County sheriff's deputies, local fire departments, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the National Transportation Safety Board all responded to the scene.

  • The plane made the emergency landing just after 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 8, 2026.

The players

California Highway Patrol

The state law enforcement agency that responded to the emergency landing incident.

San Diego County Sheriff's Department

The local law enforcement agency that responded to the emergency landing incident.

Federal Aviation Administration

The federal agency that oversees aviation safety and regulations, and responded to investigate the incident.

National Transportation Safety Board

The federal agency responsible for investigating transportation accidents, including this emergency plane landing.

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What’s next

Officials have not yet determined the cause of the emergency landing, and the National Transportation Safety Board will likely conduct a full investigation into the incident.

The takeaway

The fact that this emergency landing on a busy highway resulted in no injuries is truly remarkable, and speaks to the skill of the pilot in safely navigating the plane to the ground. This incident serves as a reminder of the potential risks and challenges faced by pilots during in-flight emergencies.