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Canton Today
By the People, for the People
Pilot Makes Emergency Landing on Georgia Road, Strikes 3 Vehicles
Only minor injuries reported after plane touches down on busy thoroughfare
Published on Feb. 10, 2026
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A single-engine plane made an emergency landing on a busy road in Gainesville, Georgia, striking three vehicles after the pilot told air traffic controllers to let his wife and parents know he loved them. The Hawker Beechcraft Bonanza was headed to Cherokee County Regional Airport from Gainesville's Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport but turned back after experiencing engine trouble. The pilot was able to safely land the plane on Browns Bridge Road, a main artery through northeast Georgia, with only two people sustaining minor injuries.
Why it matters
Emergency landings on public roads are extremely rare and dangerous, raising concerns about aviation safety and the ability of pilots to safely navigate unexpected engine failures. However, the fact that no one was seriously injured or killed in this incident is being hailed as remarkable, given the busy nature of the road where the plane landed.
The details
The pilot, Thomas Rogers, told local media that he tried to glide the plane back to the airport but realized they wouldn't make it, so he opted to land on the road. The plane struck three cars, dislodging a fuel tank into one of them, but authorities said the fact that the pilot was able to land in the middle of heavy traffic without hitting power lines or causing more damage is astonishing.
- The emergency landing occurred on Monday, February 10, 2026.
- The pilot reported engine trouble just after takeoff from Gainesville's Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport.
The players
Thomas Rogers
The pilot of the Hawker Beechcraft Bonanza plane who made the emergency landing on Browns Bridge Road in Gainesville, Georgia.
Molly
The wife of pilot Thomas Rogers, whom he told air traffic controllers to inform that he loved her.
What they’re saying
“I think we're not going to make it. Please tell my wife, Molly, I love her, and my parents. I love them so much.”
— Thomas Rogers, Pilot (LiveATC.net)
“We lost our engine taking off out of Gainesville. We tried to glide back, did everything by the book, but realized we weren't going to make it back with how far out we were, so we came down on the road.”
— Thomas Rogers, Pilot (WAGA-TV)
What’s next
The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause of the engine failure that led to the emergency landing.
The takeaway
This incident highlights the skill and quick thinking of the pilot in safely landing the plane on a busy road with minimal damage and injuries, despite the engine failure. It serves as a reminder of the inherent risks and challenges faced by pilots when dealing with unexpected mechanical issues in the air.