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The incident occurred on Monday near an intersection in Gainesville city, when a single-engine aircraft made an emergency landing and slammed into multiple vehicles. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and a student pilot, both of whom survived.
The aircraft was carrying a pilot and a student pilot, both of whom survived. (Reuters Photo)
UPDATED: Feb 11, 2026 08:16 IST
Two people narrowly escaped death after a small aircraft crash-landed on a busy road in the US state of Georgia, moments after the pilot delivered a farewell message to air traffic control, fearing he would not survive.
The incident occurred on Monday near an intersection in Gainesville city, when a single-engine aircraft made an emergency landing and slammed into multiple vehicles, according to the Gainesville Police Department (GPD).
Police said the plane came down shortly after taking off from Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport, after suffering engine trouble midair. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and a student pilot, both of whom survived.
According to multiple reports, the engine failed soon after departure, leaving the pilot with little time or altitude to return safely to the airport.
A small single-engine plane made an emergency landing on a busy road in Gainesville, Georgia, after engine failure. It struck three vehicles, injuring two people slightly. Police said the pilot avoided power lines, preventing a major tragedy. - AP pic.twitter.com/KbuBMAPiFl— Info Room (@InfoR00M) February 10, 2026
“We lost our engine taking off out of Gainesville and tried to glide back,” pilot Thomas Rogers told local media. “We did everything by the book, but realised we weren’t going to make it back with how far out we were, so we came down the road.”
Air traffic control recordings captured the tense final moments before the crash. As Rogers struggled to keep the aircraft aloft, his voice could be heard breaking as he spoke what he believed might be his last words.
“We’re not going to make it,” Rogers said. “Please tell my wife, Molly, I love her and my parents. I love them so much.”
Moments later, the plane descended rapidly onto the roadway.
Video footage shared by witnesses shows the aircraft touching down at speed on the main road before veering into traffic and colliding with several vehicles. Cars can be seen swerving and speeding away in an effort to avoid the plane as it skidded across the street.
Despite the dramatic impact and damage to vehicles on the road, authorities confirmed that no one on the ground was seriously injured. Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene and secured the area.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the cause of the engine failure.
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Published By:
Karishma Saurabh Kalita
Published On:
Feb 11, 2026
