Plane Makes Emergency Landing on I-15 in San Diego, Traffic Disrupted

Pilot safely lands after engine failure

San Diego, California, United States — A small single-engine Cessna made an emergency landing on Interstate 15 on Monday, September 29, 2025, after experiencing engine trouble mid-flight. The plane landed in the dirt near the center median of the northbound freeway, just south of Balboa Avenue.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the plane touched down at approximately 4:45 p.m. The aircraft had taken off less than an hour earlier from Montgomery-Gibbs Airport in San Diego.

Pilot and passenger safe

Authorities confirmed that both the pilot and passenger survived the incident, and the plane remained intact following the emergency landing. Retired aircraft accident investigator Rich Martindell noted that the pilot made a quick decision when the engine quit and selected a safe place to land.

Investigation underway

Investigators will begin by examining the aircraft’s fuel levels and engine to determine what caused the failure. While early indications suggest a possible engine issue, officials emphasized that the cause has not yet been confirmed.

Pattern of recent emergency landings in San Diego County

The incident comes shortly after several other emergency landings in the region. Less than a week ago, a Cessna 182 landed on a street in Fallbrook. About six weeks earlier, a Piper PA-28 landed on Interstate 805 in Sorrento Valley. In May 2025, a crash in Murphy Canyon resulted in six fatalities.

While investigators have released preliminary reports on these incidents, the official causes remain under review. Authorities are continuing to examine whether the recent series of emergency landings reflects a trend or isolated cases.