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Plane lands in middle of Chandler alfalfa field

Posted at 2:48 PM, Aug 01, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-01 22:14:52-04

A plane landed in the middle of a Chandler alfalfa field on Monday evening in an emergency situation. 

According to the Chandler Fire Department, the plane landed safely near Hunt Highway and Gilbert Road around 6:30 p.m. just seven miles south of the Chandler airport. 

The single-engine plane was carrying a pilot and three passengers.

ABC15 has learned the plane's propeller stopped rotating and the plane was losing altitude. 

“I noticed there was a little chug in the engine,” said Ashli Robertson.

“To me, it was like a clunk clunk,” said Nikki Brabbs.

“And next thing you know we smell smoke coming through the vents and the engine shuts off,” said Annette Colter.

Brabbs, Robertson, and Colter are feeling lucky after the oral surgery team was returning from their Yuma offices to the Chandler Municipal Airport.

About 35 minutes into their 45-minute flight, things went horribly wrong.

The plane's pilot began to prepare for the worst as the Gilbert oral surgeon told the passengers to open up the doors once they were low enough. 

Those aboard called their loved ones, some didn't pick up, as the plane was going down. 

But moments later, a miracle. All landed safely. No one was injured. 

Airport officials in Chandler said the cause of the plane's forced landing is currently under investigation.