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Teenage banner plane pilot makes safe emergency landing on bridge in Ocean City, New Jersey
A teenage pilot flying a banner plane over the Jersey Shore was able to safely land his plane on a bridge near Ocean City Monday afternoon after he experienced engine trouble, authorities say.
OCEAN CITY, N.J. - The pilot of a small banner plane escaped without injury Monday after making an emergency landing on a bridge in Ocean City, New Jersey.
Crews responded to a call that a plane had made an emergency landing on the Route 52 Causeway between Ocean City and Somers Point around 12:38 p.m.
Authorities say Landon Lucas, an 18-year-old pilot for Paramount Air Service, experienced engine trouble as he was flying near the Steel Pier in Atlantic City.
The plane could be seen straddling the shoulder and right lane on the bridge Monday afternoon.
Lucas released the banner into the ocean and was attempting to reach Ocean City Municipal Airport when he spotted a gap in traffic in the westbound lanes of the bridge. He was able to successfully land with no damage to the plane and no injury to himself or any motorists.
"It’s not easy. It's really a challenge. I’m very proud of him. It’s really phenomenal that he was able to do this safely," Justin Dugary said.
Dugary saw the action while on his boat. He is a pilot himself and adds the landing was a textbook case of what to do in an emergency.
The FAA and NTSB are both investigating. According to his Facebook page, Lucas just got his commercial pilots license about three months ago.
(via OCNJ Public Information)
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