Plane with engine trouble lands on highway

The pilot of a single-engine plane stalled says he didn't start shaking until after landing safely on a stretch of highway near Greenfield, Ind.

Pilot Babar Suleman took off from Eagle Creek Airpark near Indianapolis Sunday afternoon and made it to an altitude of about 7,000 feet when the plane's engine conked out. He looked around and determined Interstate 70 was the safest place to land, WRTV in Indianapolis reported Monday.

I saw two trucks and there were two cars. I let the trucks go and I squeezed in between the two cars, Suleman said. The rear car, he saw what was happening and he was smart enough he hit the brakes. The guy in front, he was just surprised by what was going on.

Suleman, who has been flying about four years, credited his training at Greenwood and Eagle Creek airports for helping him remain calm.

I was scared after I got out of the plane. My knees shook really bad, he said.

An engineer arrived at the scene and determined the temporary engine problem had been caused by ice. The plane was allowed by the Federal Aviation to take off from the interstate.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International