CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – A small plane made an emergency landing on The Sawgrass Expressway on Friday night in Broward County’s Parkland and Coral Springs border, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The plane landed on the eastbound lanes of the expressway about 10:30 p.m., just east of University Drive. FHP Lt. Yanko Reyes said no one was injured.
According to Flightaware, the Piper PA-28 Cherokee had departed from the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport at about 9:30 p.m.
The plane had a mechanical issue that affected the flow of fuel, impeding its ability to return to home base, according to FHP.
The pilot, identified only as a 29-year-old Hispanic male, was the only person on the aircraft and was not injured.
The plane belongs to First Choice Air Inc., a Tampa-based company newly registered under Jairo Bustamante.
Crews spent much of the overnight hours gutting the plane and putting it on a trailer for removal from the median. It was finally hauled away early Saturday afternoon.
All lanes on the Sawgrass Expressway eastbound have reopened except the entrance ramp from University Dr. Please use caution as you drive through the area. https://t.co/YvtE96MO5Q pic.twitter.com/brbWxg8Dvv
— FHP West Palm Beach (@FHPPalmBeach) August 8, 2020
Local 10 News Assignment Desk Editor Wilson Louis contributed to this report.