Miracle as plane makes emergency landing on dual carriageway without injuries or damage: Shocked onlookers hail ‘top’ pilot for safely avoiding rush hour summer holiday traffic and bringing light aircraft to rest on central reservation of A40

A plane has miraculously avoided injuring anyone or damaging any vehicles after it made an emergency landing on a busy dual carriageway.

The light aircraft landed on the central crash barrier of the A40 Golden Valley Bypass between Gloucester and Cheltenham near Gloucestershire Airport shortly before 6pm today.

Gloucestershire Police, who attended the incident, said that no one was injured and no other vehicles were involved amid the rush hour traffic with commuters and holidaymakers driving back from their summer breaks. 

Onlookers have since praised the actions of the ‘brave’ pilot for only causing ‘minor damage’ to the crash barrier and preventing any injuries.  

Photos show the yellow plane, which has now been moved out of the road by emergency services, on the grassy reservation, with its wings blocking both the lanes and traffic queued in both directions. 

The light aircraft landed on the central crash barrier of the A40 Golden Valley Bypass between Gloucester and Cheltenham near Gloucestershire Airport shortly before 6pm today

Pictures show the plane being moved to the side of the road by emergency services 

The light aircraft can be seen being pulled by police officers and members of the local fire service 

Traffic seen moving freely along the A40 after the plane was moved to a layby

Lee Trunks who witnessed the plane as it landed told MailOnline: ‘I was driving down the A40 from Gloucester to Cheltenham just before 6pm.

‘As I was approaching half way I suddenly noticed something had just appeared in the distance and put my hazards on. 

‘I slowed down and as I approached in the outside lane it was clear to see the plane on the central reservation. 

‘It was quite early on as everyone was stopping. The wings of the plane completely spanned the lane I was in, so I indicated to the inside lane.

‘As I drove past some people were trying to help the pilot out of the stricken plane. I continued my journey and as I got to Arle Court roundabout the police were starting to close the carriage way.

‘It looked like the pilot managed to down the plane in the perfect place to not cause any harm considering it was towards the end of rush hour.’

Vesper Gray Smith, 17, said he was on a bus from Gloucester to Cheltenham when he saw the plane in the road and took photos of it.

He said: ‘I saw some fire engines going across a bridge near the site to go to the scene of the accident.

‘There was police talking to witnesses and the pilot.

‘Right as I went past the scene the road was shut off behind me.

The area of the A40 has now reopened and traffic is flowing freely in both directions between the A417 and M5 after it was closed earlier today

Despite the miraculous landing, no one was injured and no other vehicles were involved following the incident during rush hour

‘I didn’t see the plane land, but the photos were probably taken a few minutes after it did. I felt pretty surprised, as it’s really not something that happens often.

‘I think everyone else on the bus was quite surprised as well.

‘One of the first things I thought about the incident is if everyone is alright, and luckily they were.’

One user on Twitter added: ‘Well done to the pilot in their handling of an emergency landing. Minor damage to crash barriers and no lives lost. Top Man!’

One person who saw the positive side to the incident Tweeted: ‘I mean it is unusual but better than landing in someone’s back garden.’

Another person praised the actions of the pilot, saying: ‘How brave was that pilot? Amazing.’

Lib Dem councillor for Cheltenham Alisha Lewis made light of the incident, saying: ‘My new best doorstep answer to ‘Any local issues we can help you out with?’: ‘Well there’s a plane on the A40.’ 

She added: ‘I’ve got a pretty impressive Cheltenham and Gloucestershire problem-solving phonebook but planes on the A40 are slightly beyond my Rolodex.’

National Highways confirmed that the area of the A40 has now reopened and traffic is flowing freely in both directions between the A417 and M5 after it was closed following the incident. 

A spokesperson for the Gloucestershire Constabulary said: ‘We were called shortly before 6pm today with a report a light aircraft had landed on the A40 Golden Valley.

‘No-one was injured and it is understood that no other vehicles were involved.

‘We remain at the scene while work takes place to reopen the road.’