Pilot says his final goodbyes mid-flight — then pulled off a miracle landing on a busy Georgia road

When a single-engine aircraft took off from Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport in Gainesville, Georgia, the last thing the pilot expected was for the engine to fail immediately afterward. The pilot radioed his goodbyes to his family, aimed for Browns Bridge Road, and hoped for the best.

An aircraft losing power mid-flight is not that rare. It doesn’t happen often, but it’s common enough for it to be a vital part of every pilot’s training. The goal is always to stay cool, calm, and collected — only then can a pilot correctly assess their options and do what they can, not what they want. Thomas Rodgers, who was piloting the plane, said, “We lost our engine taking off out of Gainesville and tried to glide back, did everything by the book, but realized we weren’t gonna make it back with how far out we were, so we came down the road.”

On Monday, Feb. 9, Thomas was forced to make an emergency landing at the intersection of Browns Bridge Road. As he made his way down, Thomas reportedly told the radio, “We’re not going to make it. Please tell my wife, Molly, I love her … and my parents. I love them so much.” Witnesses were able to record video of the incident, and the plane can be seen making an aggressive landing on the partially cleared road before veering into several cars and hitting them on the side. Luckily, no lives were lost. Only three cars ended up slightly damaged.

Emergency landings — colloquially known as “crash landings” — are an incredibly unpredictable procedure when flying a plane. It’s a maneuver where a pilot only has about 50% control of the aircraft. Without power, a plane is at the mercy of gravity, and even the best pilot can only hope for a miracle.

First, the pilot must find a flat surface — and even then, they better hope that surface doesn’t have surprise bumps or innocent bystanders. And even if they have nerves of steel and manage to do everything right, something can still go wrong. Not everyone makes it. Especially when a plane just so happens to lose power over a large body of water.

GAINESVILLE MIRACLE
A single-engine plane crash-lands in the middle of a busy Georgia intersection.

The pilot threads moving traffic, hits multiple cars, and still walks away.
Not a soul killed. Just a miracle at 60 mph. Might be time to rethink the risk. pic.twitter.com/NOLC5vn7tU

— Desiree (@DesireeAmerica4) February 10, 2026

For witnesses, the sight was a mix of excitement and extreme uncertainty. People reports that a witness, Deanna Campbell, said, “I just told my husband, I said, ‘That’s a plane! That’s a plane!’ It really scared us.” Gainesville Police Capt. Kevin Holbrook called the landing “absolutely remarkable.”

Thomas was flying with a student pilot, and both suffered only minor injuries. They are currently recuperating in the hospital. The road was closed on Monday to allow first responders quick access to the crash site and to provide aid to anyone who needed it. Eventually, the road reopened, and everyone went back to their lives. 

One thing is for sure: Thomas Rodgers is a national hero. If not for his quick thinking and decisive action, this story would read very differently.