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Pensacola Flight Instructor Honored with Sheriff’s Medal Following Emergency Landing on I-10
Pensacola flight instructor Emily Shelton received the Escambia County Sheriff’s Medal after executing a safe emergency landing on Interstate 10 following mid-air engine failure. Neither Shelton nor her student was injured during the incident.
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A 21-year-old Pensacola flight instructor was awarded the Escambia County Sheriff’s Medal on Thursday after successfully executing a dangerous emergency landing on Interstate 10 following a mid-air engine failure earlier in the week.
Emily Shelton, a certified flight instructor with Pensacola Air Flight School who has logged more than 1,300 flight hours, received the prestigious recognition from Escambia County Sheriff Chip W. Simmons on Thursday morning, August 6. The award recognizes her exceptional composure, rigorous training, and skill under pressure after bringing a disabled aircraft down safely near heavily traveled Pensacola roadways.
A Sudden Mid-Air Emergency
The incident occurred on a Monday morning around 10:30 a.m. as Shelton was instructing an unnamed male student during his first-ever flying lesson. The pair was airborne in a single-engine Piper PA-28 aircraft, tail number N41622, when the cockpit quickly filled with the smell of burning oil.
Moments later, the aircraft’s engine oil pressure gauge plummeted into the red zone, resulting in a critical loss of engine power. Recognizing that the plane could not reach a nearby runway, Shelton notified air traffic controllers of the impending emergency, declaring over radio, “We are not making the airport.”
Precision Landing on Interstate 10
Faced with an imminent loss of altitude, Shelton identified a gap in eastbound traffic along Interstate 10 near the Davis Highway, 9th Avenue, and Scenic Highway interchanges in Pensacola.
Navigating the low-wing aircraft with precision, Shelton swooped beneath an overhead highway sign structure and cleared an oncoming semi-truck before making a smooth landing along the highway shoulder. Dashcam video captured by truck driver Eric Jordan recorded the remarkable maneuver. Despite the high-risk scenario, neither Shelton nor her student sustained any injuries, and no ground vehicles or public infrastructure were struck.
Recognized for Outstanding Airmanship
During the award presentation, Sheriff Simmons commended Shelton’s rapid decision-making and professional skill in preventing a potential tragedy along one of Escambia County’s busiest thoroughfares.
“Thanks to her quick thinking, training, and professionalism, she safely landed the aircraft and prevented what could have been a much more serious incident,” Sheriff Simmons said. “Join us in congratulating Emily on this well-deserved recognition, and thank you for your outstanding airmanship and composure in a challenging situation!”
Shelton credited her extensive preparation for the successful outcome.
“I feel my training has prepared me exceptionally well for this moment,” Shelton said. “I’ve practiced this exact scenario many times, just never thought I’d actually have to execute it in real life.”
Sources
- https://northescambia.com
- https://www.facebook.com/escambiacountysheriff
- https://weartv.com
- https://news.yahoo.com
- https://www.carbuzz.com
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