Plane uses parachute during emergency landing near Addison Airport

ADDISON, Texas - The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating an emergency plane landing this morning near the Dallas North Tollway.

The FAA says the pilot of the single-engine Cirrus SR-22 filed a flight plan from Addison Airport to Waco, but within minutes of takeoff they encountered engine problems.

Farmer's Branch firefighters say the pilot alerted the Addison Tower that they were losing power, smelled something burning and were also having electrical and instrument problems.

The FAA says the pilot declared an emergency and when he realized he couldn't make it back to the airport, considered landing the aircraft on Alpha Road, but with so many trees and power lines the pilot decided against it.

The pilot deployed the aircraft's parachute and safely landed in the parking lot of a commercial business just 3 blocks West of the tollway about a mile and a half from Addison Airport. 

“I looked outside at the right time because I noticed the plane, “said witness Ben Muchoki,” Probably within 2 to 3 seconds of seeing it I saw some fire from the tail of the plane and this big parachute goes up and he starts very slowly coming down.”

The Pilot and passenger are okay.

Firefighters say one of the aircraft fuel tanks were ruptured and had to be drained before the aircraft could be moved.

Investigators were looking at what appears to be a round hole burned through the nose just right of the prop.