Pilot Transported To Hospital, No Injures On Ground

The pilot of a Beech 18 was hospitalized in critical condition following a hairy emergency landing Friday alongside Interstate 95 in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

The Orlando Sentinel reports 34-year-old Robert Robertson departed Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport at around 1330 EDT when his plane (shown below) lost power, and he was unable to maintain altitude.

The aircraft clipped a Florida Department of Transportation storage building, before coming down on the southbound lanes of I-95, north of the Commercial Boulevard exit. The aircraft came to rest on its side, on a grass embankment.

"It was amazing that he didn't hit anything else," said Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue division chief Lois Bowman.

Robertson, a pilot for charter outfit Monarch Air Group, was reportedly heading to the Bahamas with a load of clothes and shoes.

Monarch owner Paul Slavin credited Robertson with handling the situation as best he could, and managing to avoid causing injuries on the ground.

"He's extremely experienced. He saved a lot of lives with what he did," Slavin said.

The accident snarled traffic on I-95 during the busy Friday rush. Southbound lanes were closed for hours, as investigators combed through the wreckage.

Witnesses who came to Robertson's aid found the pilot in the cockpit, unconscious. He came to as rescuers worked to extricate him from the aircraft; there was no fire.

Robertson suffered injuries to his legs, arms and head, according to Fort Lauderdale Police spokesman Frank Sousa. He is expected to recover.

Jonathan Hart, Slavin's assistant at Monarch, said Robertson -- a former airline pilot -- knew how to handle such an emergency.

"If he experienced a failure, the first thing on his mind would be the safety of others," Hart said. "It looks like he was trying to aim for the railroad or the grassy area. Knowing Bob personally, I'm sure he was looking at his options and didn't want to injure anyone driving in a car."

"Bob is a very experienced pilot," he added. "He knows that airplane. If there was anyone to have a problem with a Beech 18, he'd be the one you'd want."

FMI: www.monarchairgroup.com/