2 Planes Make Unplanned Stops Airplanes Carrying Ncaa Final Four Fans Make Emergency Landings On Interstate 90

Two airplanes made emergency landings on Interstate 90 near Mullan, Idaho, Saturday morning after weather forced them to the ground, said officials with the Federal Aviation Administration.

No one was injured, but one airplane was damaged when its wing smacked into a road marker during landing, said Mike O’Connor, FAA spokesman.

The two planes came from Enid, Okla. They were carrying 11 basketball fans headed first for Spokane and then on to Seattle for the NCAA Final Four basketball championships, O’Connor said.

After the planes landed, the passengers were loaded on a bus and sent on to Seattle, he said.

O’Connor said the planes left Billings, Mont., and headed west early Saturday morning. Near Mullan, Idaho, they ran into low clouds. The planes circled the area but were not able to get through.

Unable to get to an airport, the pilots decided to land the planes in the westbound lanes of I-90 about 8 a.m.

A road marker punctured one of the airplane’s fuel tanks and caused substantial damage to its left wing, O’Connor said. The other plane was not damaged.

Idaho State Police officials said the planes were moved into a pullout area on the side of the road so they would not block traffic.

In the last year, about four airplanes have had to land on I-90 in the Mullan/Lookout Pass area, said Shoshone County Sheriff’s officials.

“That’s a dangerous pass,” O’Connor said.

The mountains in the Lookout Pass area often trap low clouds and fog, making it difficult to fly through.

Almost a year ago, a St. Maries, Idaho, pilot rammed his airplane into Lookout Pass after dark clouds blocked his vision. He received only minor injuries.

xxxx