A mechanical problem forced pilot Dave From to land his single-engine plane on the Trans-Canada Highway in Banff National Park shortly before 3 p.m. Tuesday. The aircraft touched down intact, there were no injuries, and no vehicles were on that stretch of highway as it landed, RCMP said.

From landed just east of the Red Earth Animal Crossing near Castle Junction. The highway was closed while the plane was prepared for takeoff, and From spent about two hours repairing it at the scene before getting back into the air.

The pilot had taken off from Chilliwack, B.C., and stopped in Salmon Arm, B.C., to refuel before continuing his flight. He told CTV News that fuel pressure began to drop about halfway between Golden and Field. “By the time I got around the corner to Lake Louise, it was getting to be a chronic problem,” From said in an interview from Springfield, Alta.

David and Elaine Gulock, visitors from Michigan, were travelling eastbound after a day of hiking in Lake Louise when they saw the plane approaching. “I saw this plane come around the mountain, and he was kind of on a 45 heading down,” David said. Elaine recorded the landing as the couple watched from the highway.

“Our first thought was, ‘Oh my God, he’s going to crash,’” Elaine said. She said the pilot levelled the plane and turned toward the westbound lanes. “He was able to find a nice big clear spot on the westbound side, and he landed, and everything turned out good,” she said.

From is an aircraft mechanic by trade and has more than 60 years of flying experience. “I’ve probably flown about 140 makes and models of airplanes, so you just kind of strap ‘em on and wear ‘em.”

RCMP public information officer Cpl. Mathew Howell said From was able to repair the aircraft at the scene. The response was coordinated among the RCMP, Parks Canada and the Transportation Safety Board. “It was a lot of moving parts for something that obviously isn’t a day-to-day occurrence, but between everything going on, they were able to figure out the best way to do it and to keep everyone safe at the same time,” Howell said.

From took off from the highway at about 4:40 p.m. and flew to Springbank Airport. The plane remains there for maintenance.

The landing was another recent emergency involving a small plane on an Alberta highway. A small aircraft made an emergency landing in Strathcona County the previous week. The Gulocks’ unexpected encounter became part of their trip through the Canadian Rockies. “We only thought we were going to be videoing animals, and so it was a bit odd to see a plane landing on the highway like this,” Elaine said.

Based on reporting by CTV News Calgary.