FAIRFIELD COUNTY, S.C. — A plane from a local flight school in Fairfield County had to make an emergency landing on I-77 Thursday evening.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that a single-engine Cessna 172 experienced engine failure before the pilot landed on I-77 near Winnsboro around 6:45 p.m. Two people were on board.
The Fairfield County Sheriff's Office said the aircraft landed in the median near mile marker 37, north of the exit to South Carolina 34 to Ridgeway and Winnsboro. The sheriff said there were no injuries.
Gene Stephens, a spokesperson for Fairfield County, said the airplane was from a flight school at the Fairfield County airport.
"According to Fairfield County Airport Director Denise Bryan, there are no injuries, and everyone is safe," Stephens said. "The emergency landing did not cause a traffic backup as it landed safely in the median. More details will be shared as they are available."
Stephens said that the Fairfield Fire Department is working with the FAA to determine how best to return the plane to the airport. He says they will remove the wings and put the aircraft on a trailer.
The sheriff's office said the South Carolina Highway Patrol also responded to the incident.
