A small plane with five people on board landed on its belly on a runway at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Wednesday evening, 4 November 2026, Phoenix Fire told 12News1. None of the five were injured and none were taken to hospital1. It happened around 7 p.m. local time near 24th Street and Interstate 10, on the southwest side of the airport2. Airport officials said the south runway would stay closed until the plane could be moved, but that the closure should not cause flight delays2.

What happened on the runway

Firefighters who arrived at the scene found a small plane with five people on board, and all five told them they were OK2. Video from the scene shows the plane resting on its belly, with no visible damage2. Phoenix Fire did not give details about what led up to the landing, and it is unclear what caused it21.

Impact on operations at Sky Harbor

Sky Harbor has three runways in operation: the north runway 8/26 (11,489 feet long), the centre runway 7L/25R (10,300 feet) and the south runway 7R/25L (7,800 feet), all 150 feet wide3. The FAA runs a control tower and a TRACON at the airport, and the tower is responsible for the airport and the airspace within five miles up to 3,000 feet3. The south runway has its own tower frequency, 120.9 MHz3.

For crews, the FAA's NOTAM system provides temporary, time-critical aeronautical information4. US rules require pilots to become familiar with all available information on a planned flight before departure, including NOTAMs, which can cover runway, taxiway and ramp restrictions4. Pilots can look up NOTAMs online via the FAA's NOTAM Search, and the FAA also advises them to contact ATC or flight service en route for updated information on their destination, because activities such as fire and rescue operations may pose hazards and this information may not be available before arrival4. For passengers, no flight delays were expected2.

Accident or incident under US rules

Under US rules, an occurrence counts as an aircraft accident when any person suffers death or serious injury between boarding and disembarking, or when the aircraft receives substantial damage5. Damage to landing gear, wheels, tyres, flaps, brakes or wingtips, as well as bent fairings or cowling, dented skin and ground damage to propeller blades, is not considered substantial damage for that purpose5. An occurrence other than an accident that affects or could affect the safety of operations is an incident5. The operator must notify the NTSB immediately after an aircraft accident or after any of a list of specified serious incidents6. Whether this landing will be classed as an accident or an incident has not been announced.

For background, read what the NTSB found after a Beech Baron gear-up landing in Shreveport. You can also browse flight schools in the United States or read more safety news.