Plane Makes Emergency Landing In Great Salt Lake

Plane floating in the Great Salt Lake

GREAT SALT LAKE – A plane occupied by a single person was forced to make a controlled landing into the Great Salt Lake Thursday.

The pilot, an adult male, was flying the plane when its engine failed and he was forced to make a controlled landing into the water near Stansbury Island at 12:45 p.m.

A brine shrimp vessel came upon the plane and the shrimpers were able to get the pilot into their boat. No other occupants were inside the plane at the time of the crash.

The brine shrimp vessel contacted a Utah State Parks boat and informed them about the pilot on board and transferred him to the State Parks vessel.

Plane in the Great Salt Lake

The pilot was shaken up and cold from the water, but claimed to be unharmed and refused medical treatment.

As of 2 p.m. Thursday, the plane is still in the water and Utah State Parks staff are in the process of marking the location as it poses a navigational hazard on the water. Because of the plane’s wood and fiber construction, it is floating above the water.

The owner of the plane was not on board and is being contacted about the incident.

Utah State Parks and Recreation would like to thank the brine shrimp workers for their assistance and quick thinking in this incident.