The Irvine Police Department tweeted that the plane had a student pilot and an instructor on board when it made the emergency landing shortly after 6pm on Wednesday 17 September.
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The auto driver can be heard saying ‘Are you kidding me?’ before he turns right and passes the aircraft, which comes to an eventual stop some distance along the road.
Dashcam footage shot by a bystander captures the surreal moment as a small plane makes an emergency landing in the middle of traffic – all while seeming to obey all relevant traffic laws in the process.
The emergency landing occurred near John Wayne Airport, where the aircraft is based and was attempting to return to when it encountered an unknown technical problem which caused the plane’s engine to fail. With no other options, the student pilot and his instructor had to settle for a street in Irvine.
Schrader said problems with the aircraft were a surprise to those involved because the plane had been flown to Ramona Airport in San Diego only days before and had also had a full inspection only 20 flight hours prior.
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Ms Wedge added that no injuries nor damage to the plane was reported after the incident took place.
