Young Pilot Hailed Hero After Landing Small Plane On Route 422 In Berks County
EXETER TOWNSHIP, Pa. (CBS) -- A heroic plane landing in Exeter Township, Berks County that saved three lives is being compared to Capt. Chelsey "Sully" Sullenberger's Miracle on the Hudson in 2009.
"Everybody is talking about it," said Gwen Ambrose, who lives near the intersection where the plane landed. "I think we'll be talking about it for a while."
After losing its engine, the single-engine Cessna landed safely on Rt. 422, just before Daniel Boone Road, in the dark of night around 9:30 p.m. Monday.
"We've seen a lot of crazy stuff on 422, but this is probably the first time we've seen something like this," said Sgt. Sean Fullerton of the Exeter Township Police Department.
Fullerton said co-pilot and instructor Raymond Sunny, 24, took over the controls from pilot Travis Robbins, 22, avoiding trees, powerlines and traffic.
"He brought it in, going about 100 miles an hour and landed safely," Sgt. Fullerton said. "He did ding that one vehicle, but it was minor damage and we're just so thrilled that he was able to do that safely."
The two pilots and a passenger on the plane were not hurt. The driver of a car the plane hit also escaped injury.
"Pretty unbelievable, very thankful everyone is OK," said Janet C., who also lives near the plane's impromptu landing spot. "Like I said, kudos to the pilot, you don't see it often, but this year, I guess anything goes."
The plane is based out of the Smoketown Airport in East Lampeter Township and the group was on its way back to that airport after a quick trip to New Hampshire.
The FAA and NTSB are investigating what led to the emergency landing.