Drunk Pilot Emergency Lands On Highway After Running Out Of Fuel

A pilot was arrested after he allegedly flew his plane while intoxicated. Not only was he flying the plane, but he also made an emergency landing on the highway after he ran out of fuel.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. John Seesing, 35, was flying a Piper Cherokee single-engine aircraft toward Wheeler Downtown Airport in Kansas City when was forced to make an emergency landing on Interstate 70.

The pilot was flying from Florida to Missouri. He radioed in at 2:45 AM Friday before making a touchdown on interstate 70 near Grain Valley and hitting a guardrail.

Seesing, the pilot of Prairie Village Kansas did not hit any vehicles but suffered minor injuries. He was the only passenger on board.

When Highway Patrol arrived on the scene they suspected he was intoxicated. The Kansas City Star reported that officers arrested Seesing on suspicion of driving while intoxicated or impaired, felony possession of a controlled substance, felony unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and careless actions.

Highway patrol spokesman Sgt Andy Bell said the pilot was taken to a local hospital for treatment for his minor injuries.

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A woman named Crystal Lipham witnessed the incident when she was driving a tractor-trailer westbound on I-70. She said she noticed the small plane flying low, then it landed two car lengths away from where she stopped her truck, and that the plane spun around and almost clipped a passing semi-truck.

Lipham told KMBC, "Right now, I’m in a state of shock. I’m like did that really happen or did I dream that. All I can say is he one lucky SOB because if he had hit that plane just right and he didn’t hit when he did, he would’ve gone over the barrier and there was like a 20-foot drop."

Highway crews spent about three hours towing the plane and cleaning up debris. The pilot received his student pilot certificate in 2020 but was not allowed to transport passengers. By the looks of this incident, I don't think he will be flying again.

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