Pilot safely lands plane on Brazilian highway after engine failure

On April 5, 2025, a pilot was thrust into a perilous situation when his Pelican 500 BR single-engine aircraft faced a critical engine failure shortly after taking off from the Guaramirim Aeroclub in Santa Catarina, Brazil. The plane was on a routine flight destined for Garuva when issues began to arise with the engine, prompting immediate action from the pilot, Mateus Renan Calado, who is 29 years old. Given the aircraft's distress, Calado made the decision to land on the busy BR-101 highway, which posed significant risks to both himself and motorists. As Calado skillfully maneuvered the aircraft, witnesses captured dramatic footage of the plane weaving between vehicles before it finally made a shaky touchdown on the hard shoulder, narrowly avoiding a large tanker truck. A witness was heard expressing shock and relief as they filmed, first fearing a crash and then marveling at the safe landing. Fortunately, neither the pilot, aircraft owner Valdemiro José Minella, aged 71, nor the two passengers aboard sustained any injuries during this harrowing experience. After the emergency landing, the Federal Highway Police in Brazil reported that traffic was temporarily blocked to facilitate the aircraft's removal from the highway. The police confirmed that the plane did not collide with any vehicles during its landing sequence, highlighting the skillful handling of the situation by the pilot. The aircraft was deemed unable to continue its journey and subsequently was dismantled for transport by truck. Furthermore, the Brazilian Air Force announced that they would conduct an investigation to understand the circumstances leading to the engine failure. They emphasized the need for thorough examination to determine potential contributing factors that may have led to this incident. The investigation will seek to ascertain how such an engine malfunction could happen and whether preventive measures could be taken to ensure the safety of future flights. This investigation follows a routine inspection earlier in the year, during which the plane had reportedly completed seven hours of flight time without indicating any mechanical issues.