Pilot Safely Lands Commander 114B on I-78 After Engine Failure

WEISENBERG TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A 65-year-old Michigan pilot safely landed a Commander 114B aircraft on Interstate 78 following engine trouble Saturday morning, April 6, 2026. The flight departed Solberg Airport in Readington, New Jersey, around 9:20 a.m. with two occupants aboard.

Emergency Response and Investigation

According to multiple reports, the pilot contacted air traffic control expressing hesitation about landing on the highway but determined it was the safest option after engine problems developed. The aircraft touched down on the right shoulder of eastbound I-78 just before 9:30 a.m. All occupants — including a 34-year-old passenger from New Jersey — remained uninjured, and no injuries were reported among drivers.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident. Weisenberg Volunteer Fire Chief Justin Oswald called the outcome "probably the best possible outcome for this type of incident we could see." Eastbound lanes were temporarily closed but fully reopened by 1 p.m. The 1995-built aircraft was towed to an airport in Allentown. Weather conditions at the time were sunny with light winds and temperatures around 60 degrees Fahrenheit.