I-78 reopens after small plane makes emergency landing, police say

A small plane made an emergency landing on a Pennsylvania highway Saturday, snarling traffic on this holiday weekend.

Pennsylvania State Police confirmed the plane landed on I-78 eastbound on Saturday morning between Exit 40 (Kutztown and Krumsville) and Exit 45 (Lynnport and New Smithville).

The 1995 Commander 114B plane took off from Solberg, New Jersey on a flight to Indiana when shortly after 9 a.m., the pilot noticed engine problems, PSP said in a news release.

The pilot tried to make it to a local airport but instead touched down on I-78 east in Weisenberg Township, Lehigh County, according to police. 

Video of the landing was shared widely on social media, and we have it posted on our Instagram here.

No injuries were reported by the pilot — a 65-year-old Michigan man — or the passenger, a 34-year-old New Jersey woman.

Traffic was turned around to exit at the nearest ramp, according to PSP. The plane has been removed from the highway and towed to a local airport.

I-78 eastbound is now back open, according to PSP.

Several fire and EMS units responded to the incident.