ECM PHOTOGRAPHER WITNESSES PLANE MAKE EMERGENCY LANDING ON FREEWAY IN SANTEE

Photo by Paul Kruze

A small plane made an emergency landing on the median of Highway 52 at the junction of State Route 125 in Santee shortly after 6 p.m. today.

ECM photojournalist Paul Kruze was driving on the freeway when he witnessed the startling event.

“I was on my way to a concert when all of a sudden I saw this thing landing right in front of me. It was surreal.  I had the same exact feeling as watching the plane fly into the World Trade Center—like watching a movie,” he said, then praised the pilot’s skill. “It was very controlled and the pilot obviously knew what he was doing.”

The pilot had taken off from Gillespie Field when he encountered a problem and opted to make the emergency landing, CHP told ECM news partner 10 News. The pilot and a passenger were safe without injuries.