Warden Service Plane Lands on Interstate

The Turnpike Authority reports that a small Maine Warden Service plane made an emergency landing on the Maine Turnpike today near Litchfield. Initial reports stated that the plane had run out of fuel, but the Warden's Service says a mechanical problem on the plane caused it to lose power.

Twitter posts from the Maine Turnpike Authority say the plane set down near mile 95 in the northbound lanes of the highway, near the Litchfield traffic plaza. Authorities say traffic was never in danger.

The pilot, Dan Dufault was able to nurse the plane into the abandoned rest area to get it out of traffic. Warden Service Chief Pilot Durward Humphrey was called to the scene and he was able to restore power to the plane.

Traffic was stopped in the northbound lane while the plane took off again and was flown to Augusta for inspection. There was one passenger, along with the pilot. Biologist Charlie Todd was flying from Belfast to Lewiston-Auburn to study eagles.  No one was hurt in the emergency landing. Nice job on the part of the pilot putting that plane down safely!