Often getting stuck in a traffic gets on the nerves of unsuspecting drivers, especially during the busy hours. In frustration or curiosity, it becomes a force of habit to just bob your head out and take a sneak peek at what is actually causing the delay. A similar traffic jam got the drivers of Washington confused, and later surprised to find that a plane was being landed on a busy 4-lane road.
Washington State trooper Clint Thompson was patrolling when he noticed a plane descending towards Pacific Avenue in Spanaway, about 45 miles south of Seattle, Washington. He made an emergency U-turn, switched on his emergency lights and cleared the road and held the traffic so the pilot could safely make the landing.
Thompson’s dashcam recorded the event as it happened, and was shared on Twitter.
Trooper Thompson’s dash cam video capturing this morning’s events! Great job by the pilot and trooper! pic.twitter.com/7X0uWYJ9fc
— Trooper Ryan Burke (@wspd1pio) August 1, 2019
Pilot of the plane, David Acklam, reportedly said that he was grateful for the trooper’s quick thinking after his engine gave out. “Probably saved me from either serious injury or death and somebody else from getting in a car crash with a plane. It’s a good day to be alive,” Acklam said.
An eye-witness account also
“Woke me right up! Came right to the stoplight, most amazing thing I think I’ve seen in a long time.”
Twitterati commended the act by the cop, lauding him.
Would this be considered a warning for it being a first time offence?
Seriously, props to both the pilot who nailed the landing and the officer who assisted. Awesome little plane. Hope it soars again!
— Mike (@milkmanleeroy) August 1, 2019
Freaking amazing!
— barbwire (@barbwir33913971) August 1, 2019
Beyond belief. There are no words. Impressive job completed in the sky and on the ground. So thankful all are safe. I cannot help but wonder how many guardian angels intervened as well. The impossible, made possible, all captured in this video!
— kokelleyfnp (@kokelleyfnp) August 1, 2019
https://twitter.com/K9Dasy/status/1157010130329714689
While some appreciated the cop, others couldn’t help but imagine the situation to go
Reminds me of James Bond. pic.twitter.com/wVvKyutApJ
— Eric (@HappyHominidNW) August 1, 2019
I half expected him to take off when the light turned green.
— Mike Haines (8645110320) (@vertigomike1) August 1, 2019
He even stopped before the red signal.
— Troy Magennis (@t_magennis) August 1, 2019
I love how he knocks on the plane window, as if dude is just gonna sit in there after all that 😂
— Bowerbird (@bower_birdy) August 2, 2019
Here's the conversation I hope happened:
OFFICER: License and registration, please.
PILOT: Is there a problem officer?
OFFICER: Failure to use your turn signal in a turning lane.— Ignatz Laird (@IgnatzLaird) August 2, 2019
"Merging from a non-merging z-dimension"
— Gibodean (@gibodean) August 2, 2019
Jokes apart, we’re glad an accident was avoided with the pilot’s control and the trooper’s presence of mind. No one was harmed in the incident, and luckily, the pilot didn’t get a ticket for not maintaining his lane on the road.