NBC Washington reports that the Virginia State Police (VSP) said a commercial plane made a forced landing on a highway Friday afternoon minutes after takeoff.
The small aircraft landed in DIREX lanes on the Loudoun County Parkway near Dulles International Airport around 12:51 p.m., VSP confirmed. according to To the outlet.
“Dulles Airport received a report at approximately 12:50 p.m. that a departing aircraft had landed on a nearby road outside the airport grounds. The aircraft was identified as Southern Airways Express Flight 246,” the paper said. “Loudoun County response crews are managing the scene and Dulles Airport remains open for takeoff and landing,” Dulles International Airport said in a statement released at 1:30 p.m.
An image shared by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) in a statement posted on Twitter showed the plane on the road surrounded by various flashing emergency response vehicles. VDOT said in a statement that southbound lanes of the Loudoun County Parkway were closed as a result of the incident, NBC Washington reported.
“In fact, a small plane is in the road blocking all lanes of the Loudoun County Parkway at Arcola Mills Dr.,” VDOT wrote on Twitter. “Please use another route.”
#Dulles: In fact, a small plane is on the road, blocking all lanes of the Loudoun County Parkway on Arcola Mills Dr. Please use an alternative route. #VaTraffic pic.twitter.com/QJjQCv3TiP
— VDOT Northern Virginia (@VaDOTNOVA) January 19, 2024
According to NBC Washington, VDOT announced that police responded to the plane's unexpected return to the ground not far from Dulles International Airport. VSP reported that no injuries were reported after the emergency landing. (Related: Boeing cargo plane suffers in-flight emergency as federal investigation continues)
The cause of the plane's sudden emergency landing has reportedly not been disclosed. However, snowfall caused planes to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport in the morning, impacting traffic near the DMV that same day, the newspaper reported.
