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83-year-old lands plane on expressway
Imagine. There you are driving along an expressway in South Florida. You're checking the rear-view mirror and side-view mirrors, watching the distance between you and the cars in front of your car, smoothly navigating traffic. You're doing a swell job, and then there's a surprise--something you weren't planning on. A yellow object comes into view. A large yellow tropical bird, perhaps? Your heart starts pounding faster. You think "Gaad!!! WHAT IS THAT THING?" It's a plane--a single-engine Hummelbird plane, and it's landing in front of you. ON THE EXPRESSWAY for heaven's sake. And the plane is being driven by an 83-year-old.
That's what happened yesterday morning to drivers on the Sawgrass Expressway near Oakland Park Blvd. Luckily the plane didn't hit any cars and cars didn't hit it when it landed in the midst of traffic after pilot Ralph Squeglia experienced engine trouble.
Lest you think this mishap had something to do with Squelia's age, on the contrary. He's been flying since the mid-1940 and knows a thing or two--such as how not to panic when landing a plane on an expressway and what to do if the airplane's wing clips a light pole. Oh, yeah--and how to do so without hitting cars.
According to Carlos Miller's Miami News article, Squelia is not getting a citation from the state troopers and the FAA has yet to comment. As for the state trooper's report, perhaps there isn't a citation regarding how one should land a plane in traffic. Like "I'm sorry sir, you landed on the wrong side of the road. You're supposed to be going with traffic."
More crazy stories from the skies
Filed under: Stories, United States, Transportation, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Iceclaw Jun 22nd 2009 2:28PM
OMG!!!!!!! I would have loved to see that happen! I wonder what it was like to land on an expressway. I'd imagine a LOT different than landing on a runway!!! Totally coolio! (if you think I'm weird for talking like this, than you're insane, because I'm 12 and 12 year olds DO NOT talk the weird way of adults) =)
jbjg24m Jun 22nd 2009 6:58PM
at least you are honest about your age !
Valerie Jun 22nd 2009 2:46PM
Wow! Good Job!! :)
Sam W Jun 22nd 2009 2:46PM
Excellent flying Ralph Squeglia. Kept your head and saved the aircraft as well. Show 'em how it done!!!!
Adrien Jun 22nd 2009 3:07PM
Score one for the elderly!! Haha
Adrien
Bush pilot Billy Jun 22nd 2009 4:00PM
A highway is the last resort to use as an emergency runway. Dangers include, but are not limited to, overhead power lines, power poles, streetlights street signs and traffic. Too many people have survived the emergency landing only to not survive the crash with a car. But good job Mr. Squeglia, remember, a good landing is one that you can walk away from, a great landing is one where you can use the airplane again, and best of all, when no one is injured.
Rich Jun 22nd 2009 4:08PM
Looks exactly like me and has the same age & history, If we haven't learned by now we never will. I did one and I'm still here......
Justin Jun 22nd 2009 4:29PM
Actually landing the plane against traffic would surely be a lot more dangerous than landing it with traffic, and hence I believe that laws mandate this in emergency situations.
Jeff Storrs Jun 23rd 2009 1:51AM
Umm how stupid Umm Sir Sorry Your engine is not running your just going to have to turn that airplane around and land it facing the other direction, can't you see Mr. pilot that this is how it is done in EMERGENCIES!! How frikking ridiculous yo9u sound o well
rollinin Jun 22nd 2009 4:44PM
I'm sure there was a lot of pucker factor there but if you landed with the flow of traffic how would they see you coming to get out of the way?
enginenut Jun 22nd 2009 4:49PM
as long as it is an emergency, you can land anywhere.
MC Jun 22nd 2009 4:52PM
Well... when you gotta go... you gotta go!
pete Jun 22nd 2009 5:13PM
The American hiway system was originally designed for military use in case of national emergency, under Dwight Eisenhower. The idea was to have large long landing areas where troops could be landed in massive numbers should the event become necessary. Using them for motor traffic was a secondary consideration, and using them for the parking lots they've become today was probably never considered at all.
southeastmsi Jun 22nd 2009 5:09PM
"You're checking the rear-view mirror and side-view mirrors, watching the distance between you and the cars in front of your car, smoothly navigating traffic..." This journalist has obviously never driven in south Florida.......
lars Jun 22nd 2009 5:18PM
Back when interstates were being planned out, President Eisenhower imagined the multi lane system with airstrips in the median anyway. It was, and still is, a brilliant idea.
bob Jun 22nd 2009 5:48PM
83 and still thinking! WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bushwacker Jun 22nd 2009 5:48PM
I have a friend that lost an engine and did the same thing and he got a ticket. He beat the ticket when the judge who had seen the broken parts made him promise not to do it again within the next 6 months............
stench of garlic Jun 22nd 2009 6:30PM
the F.A.RS STATE STATE THAT AN AVIATOR CAN DO ANYTHING IN AN EMERGENCY. THERE CAN BE NO REQUIREMENT THAT HESHE LAND WITH TRAFFIC.
Justin Jun 23rd 2009 10:30PM
haha, buddy highways go in two directions, therefore he would not have to turn around but only move over 10 feet or so... and seeing as though he was able to guide himself toward a highway, one would think he would be able to do this very small additional maneuver (which he probably did)