Drivers on Interstate 78 got a shock Saturday morning when a small private plane made an emergency landing on the eastbound lanes near Exit 45, just outside New Smithville in Berks County. The surprise arrival slowed traffic to a crawl as state and local crews rushed in, keeping only one lane open while they figured out what to do with an aircraft sitting in the middle of a major highway. Witnesses shared photos from the scene and said it was not immediately clear how many people were on board or whether anyone had been injured.
According to NBC10 Philadelphia, the plane came down on the eastbound side near Exit 45 and triggered heavy backups in the area. A witness identified as Bonnie Magrowski told the station she saw only the pilot in the cockpit and provided photos from the highway. NBC10 reported that officials had not yet confirmed how many occupants were aboard or whether there were any injuries as emergency crews continued working at the scene.
Traffic And Response
State and local emergency responders converged on the interstate and funneled vehicles around the aircraft while investigators and tow crews worked to clear the roadway. Drivers were warned to expect delays and urged to check 511PA for real-time conditions and traffic camera views; I-78 in Berks County falls under PennDOT District 5. As of the time of reporting, no formal press release from any responding agency had been posted.
What Comes Next
The National Transportation Safety Board is the independent federal agency responsible for investigating civil aviation incidents and issuing safety recommendations, and federal officials sometimes join inquiries into unusual landings like this one. Local police and PennDOT are expected to release a fuller account once the highway is cleared and any federal review is in motion. As NBC10 Philadelphia noted, details were still developing and more information was anticipated later Saturday.
