Pilot makes emergency landing on highway at entrance to Arches National Park

Moab • A pilot landed on Highway 191 at the entrance to Arches National Park Thursday.

Grand County Sheriff Jamison Wiggins and deputies were on the scene. Eyewitnesses said drivers on the ground were able to avoid the aircraft and no injuries were reported.

Wiggins later on Thursday said the pilot forgot to switch fuel tanks and had to make an emergency landing. He was flying low inspecting a gas pipeline while flying from Durango, Colorado, en route to Salt Lake City when he realized he waited too long to switch the tanks and was forced to make an emergency landing, according to the sheriff.

One of the aircraft’s tires failed while parked on the highway and staff from Redtail Air repaired the tire. As of 5 p.m., the pilot and emergency responders were waiting for a flatbed trailer to come and tow the plane to Canyonlands Regional Airport as it was deemed unsafe to take off from the highway.

This story was first published by The Times-Independent.