Afternoon commuters on U.S. 290 got anything but a routine drive on Wednesday when a small plane made an emergency landing on the highway west of Circle Drive in southwest Travis County. Authorities said no one was hurt, turning what could have been a tragedy into more of a traffic nightmare than an aviation one.
Deputies and state crews remained on scene as they secured the aircraft and worked to clear the roadway. Drivers were warned to brace for serious delays while multiple lanes stayed closed during the response.
TCSO is responding to an emergency landing involving a small plane at US 290, west of Circle Drive. No injuries reported. Expect significant traffic delays in the area for an extended period of time. pic.twitter.com/EAEf4z7xdR
— Travis County Sheriff's Office (@TravisCoSheriff) March 11, 2026
Officials report lane closures and delays
The Travis County Sheriff’s Office alerted the public on X shortly after 4:30 p.m., and CBS Austin reports that the Texas Department of Public Safety said the two left lanes on westbound U.S. 290 were shut down. The station noted a crew was headed to the scene and cautioned that the traffic jam could drag on for quite some time.
What the sheriff's office said
In its post on X, the Travis County Sheriff's Office said deputies were responding to the emergency landing and confirmed there were no injuries. The agency urged drivers to avoid the area while first responders secured the scene and coordinated with state traffic officials to manage the backup. As of the initial update, officials had not released details about the type of aircraft or what forced the pilot to bring it down on the highway.
How this fits the local picture
Emergency landings on major roadways are rare, but when they happen, they can shut things down for hours while crews check the aircraft, clear any debris, and document what unfolded. For some perspective, Fox 7 Austin has previously covered serious aircraft-related incidents that closed portions of west U.S. 290, a reminder of why officials tend to err on the side of caution. On Wednesday, crews were expected to work into the evening to fully reopen lanes and wrap up their preliminary checks.
