Pilot unexpectedly lands plane on busy highway, catches drivers off guard

Light aircraft pilot Mateus Renan Calado made an emergency landing on a busy highway in Brazil after an engine failure. The aircraft narrowly missed a truck and other vehicles.

The single-engine Pelican 500 BR lost power shortly after taking off from the airport in Gauramirima over the BR-1010 highway near the city of Garuva. ​​The pilot, 29-year-old Mateus Renan Calado, was forced to urgently look for a place to land — and landed right on the highway, which was overcrowded with traffic.

The plane’s 71-year-old owner, businessman Valdemiro Jose Minella, was also on board. According to police, both men were unharmed.

Eyewitnesses captured the landing on video: the plane maneuvered with difficulty between trucks and cars, narrowly avoiding power lines. A woman in a car following the plane screamed in panic: "It's going to hit the truck! It's going to crash!"

The plane initially headed for the grassy shoulder, but at the last moment landed on the asphalt right in front of the tanker truck, avoiding a collision with other cars. The driver of one of the cars managed to brake sharply to avoid a hit.

Emergency services quickly arrived at the scene. Around 5:00 p.m. local time, the plane was towed away and traffic on the highway was restored. An investigation into the cause of the incident is currently underway.

Many on social media noted the pilot's brilliant reaction.

"That was awesome. Buy this guy a beer - incredible piloting," wrote one user.