VIDEO: Pilot rescued after emergency landing, marks third aviation incident in Florida within days

VIDEO: Pilot rescued after emergency landing, marks third aviation incident in Florida within days Advertisement Updated: 6:37 AM CST Nov 9, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Nicole Kikkert Reporter Caitlyn Scott Digital Producer VIDEO: Pilot rescued after emergency landing, marks third aviation incident in Florida within days Updated: 6:37 AM CST Nov 9, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Nicole Kikkert Reporter Caitlyn Scott Digital Producer A pilot was rescued after a small plane made an emergency landing Sunday afternoon, marking the third aviation incident in Southwest Florida within a week. Video from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office showed its aviation unit rescuing the male pilot from the aircraft that landed in a remote, landlocked area of the Estero Bay Preserve. Advertisement Officials said the area was inaccessible by boat or vehicle. "A multi-agency response was quickly coordinated, and LCSO Aviation successfully conducted an aerial rescue, safely bringing the aircraft's sole occupant, to safety," the sheriff's office said in a post on Facebook . Watch video of the rescue in the playfinder above The pilot was evaluated and no injuries were reported. Colton Novella, a Lee County resident who lives near the preserve, described the scene to Hearst sister station WBBH. "I live maybe half a mile from there, and I actually saw all the firetrucks and, you know, rescue trucks going down there," Novella said. When informed about the emergency landing, Novella expressed concerns about recent aviation incidents. "There’s been so many plane crises lately, if you will. And it makes me think what the-- I mean, production-wise on these planes. You know what? What are they? What's missing? What-- what can they be cheapening out on?" Novella said. The emergency landing on Sunday follows two other aviation incidents in the area. On Saturday, a plane made an emergency landing in the middle of Bayshore Road in North Fort Myers. The plane was caught on video appearing to hit a pickup truck driving along the road. Two pilots were inside the plane at the time of that incident. No injuries were reported. Two days earlier, another plane crashed into a citrus farm in DeSoto County, Florida. The string of incidents has left many residents concerned. "I don't know, that's insane that three times in one week someone needs to do something to fix it. For sure," Giuseppe Foglia, a Lee County resident, told WBBH. Novella also shared his apprehension about flying after hearing about the recent events. "Hearing about all these things, I'm like, maybe I'll start driving now when I have these big trips coming up, because I just, it makes me think what's going to happen in the commercial flight world next," Novella said. The Federal Aviation Administration is now investigating the incidents. VIDEO: Small plane crashes into truck while making emergency landing Make WISN a preferred source on Google Add Preferred Source Share Infinite Scroll Enabled Top Picks Joe Biden to limit memoir promotion tour, says cancer 'slows me down' Police: Gunman who killed at least 6 people in Polish city square dies in hospital Coin flip settles a tie in a northern Kentucky election 'Little Rascals' star creates GoFundMe ahead of welcoming sixth child: 'No other choice'