A small plane struck multiple vehicles during an emergency landing on a Georgia roadway Monday, the Gainesville Police Department announced.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the single-engine aircraft, a Hawker Beechcraft BE-36, experienced engine issues during a short flight north of Atlanta.
Multiple people sustained minor injuries in the incident. Two individuals, including one driver, were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Photos released by the police department show a white aircraft with damage to the nose cone and right wing near a road intersection. One image also appears to show an SUV with front-end damage as fire department personnel responded to the crash scene.
The plane departed Gainesville’s Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport and was headed to Cherokee County Regional Airport in Canton. Authorities said the aircraft attempted to abort its flight shortly after departure due to engine trouble.
Police said the two pilots on board noticed engine issues related to the plane’s RPMs. When they realized they “did not have enough power to make it to the airport,” they initiated an emergency landing on the roadway.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the aircraft struck three vehicles during the forced landing.
“Shortly after departure, the pilot experienced problems with the engine and elected to turn back towards Gainesville to land there,” the NTSB said. “The airplane didn’t have enough power to make it to the airport, so the pilot made a forced landing on a roadway, where the plane struck three vehicles.”
Police added that when the aircraft’s right wing clipped a vehicle, the plane’s fuel tank came loose and “went into the rear of the SUV and into the vehicle.”
Road closures were implemented following the crash, and residents were advised to expect extended traffic delays.
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