Plane Makes Emergency Landing on Allentown Interstate After Engine Issues

A small aircraft made an emergency landing on the eastbound lanes of Interstate 78 in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, on the morning of April 4, 2026. The aircraft, identified as a 1995 Commander 114B, touched down on the highway near mile marker 45.6 in Weisenberg Township after the pilot reported engine issues.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration and Pennsylvania State Police, the pilot was attempting to reach a nearby local airport when the engine problems forced the emergency landing on the pavement. There were two people on board the aircraft: a 65-year-old male pilot from Michigan and a 34-year-old female passenger from New Jersey.

Authorities confirmed that neither the pilot nor the passenger was injured during the incident. The flight had originated in New Jersey and was en route to Indiana at the time of the mechanical failure.

Impact on Traffic and Highway Operations

The emergency landing caused significant traffic disruptions on the busy highway. First responders shut down the eastbound lanes of I-78 to investigate the scene and ensure public safety.

Eastbound traffic was temporarily detoured to Exit 40 (Krumsville Road) in Greenwich Township, located in Berks County. The highway remained closed for several hours before reopening later in the afternoon on April 4, 2026.

Witnesses on the highway captured the event on camera. Emily Rivera, who was driving from Harrisburg to the Lehigh Valley, recorded the plane descending onto the pavement in front of her vehicle via a dashboard camera. Rivera described the experience as something you expect from the movies.

Other dashcam footage obtained by NBC10 showed the aircraft flying directly above vehicles before the wheels made contact with the ground. Another witness, Bonnie Magrowski, provided photos of the scene and stated she saw the pilot in the cockpit as she drove by.

Recovery and Investigation

Following the landing and the initial investigation by state police, the 1995 Commander 114B was towed from the interstate to a local airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration is conducting an investigation into the cause of the engine issues that led to the emergency landing.