A small airplane with four people aboard made an emergency landing on a major San Diego-area highway.

The plane landed late Sunday night in the middle of the southbound lanes along Interstate 15 just north of El Norte Parkway.

Authorities told The Associated Press the single-engine 1968 Piper plane was carrying four people, including the pilot, and landed when it ran out of gas.

According to the AP, the pilot, 48-year-old Ken Gheysar of Orange, was heading to Palomar Airport in Carlsbad when he noticed the plane was running out of gas.

The pilot decided to make an emergency landing in the middle of the highway near Escondido.

None of the passengers was injured but a pickup traveling along the highway hit the left wing of the plane shortly after it landed. After a temporary closure, all traffic lanes were re-opened Monday morning but it could be several hours before the plane is removed from the highway shoulder.

Officers say they are waiting to hear from the insurance company.

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