Plane Parked on I-15 Closes Off-Ramp

The plane landed in the middle of the southbound lanes along Interstate 15 just north of El Norte Parkway

An airplane parked along the shoulder of a major San Diego area highway caused delays for commuters Monday.

The plane landed in the middle of the southbound lanes along Interstate 15 just north of El Norte Parkway around midnight.

Hours later, the plane was moved to a highway offramp so mechanics can remove it from the freeway.

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By 5 p.m. Monday, crews began removing it from the offramp. Aerial footage shows the plane attached to a tow truck.

The California Highway Patrol said the pilot of the 1968 Piper was on his way to Palomar Airport from Mammoth when he noticed he was running out of fuel.

He decided to make an emergency landing in the middle of the highway near Escondido.

All three passengers inside were not injured but a pickup traveling along the highway hit the left wing of the plane shortly after it landed.

The El Norte Parkway offramp will be closed until late Monday according to Caltrans.

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