In a dramatic turn of events during Friday's snowy weather, a small commuter plane operated by Southern Airways Express was forced to make an emergency landing on the Loudoun County Parkway in the Arcola area. The plane had just taken off from Dulles International Airport and was en route to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the seven people aboard the aircraft.

The distress call was made by the pilot shortly after takeoff, prompting the plane to land on the parkway just west of the airport in the early afternoon. The exact reason for the emergency landing is still unclear at this time. According to FlightRadar24, the aircraft is a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan.

The pilot communicated the emergency situation to air traffic controllers, declaring a "Mayday mayday" over the radio. Authorities sprang into action, dispatching emergency services to the scene. The plane ultimately came to a rest near Arcola Mills Drive.

Southern Airways Express Flight 246 was a regularly scheduled flight for the commuter airline. Following the incident, first responders from Loudoun County and state police quickly arrived to manage the situation. Despite the emergency landing, Dulles International Airport remained open for other flights to operate.

Stan Little, the Chief Executive of Southern Airways, expressed relief that there were no injuries and all passengers were safe. Little praised the pilots for their quick response and adherence to safety protocols. The company is now collaborating closely with authorities to thoroughly investigate the incident and ensure the safety and security of their passengers and fleet.

Interestingly, it was reported by HuffPost in October that Southern Airways Express was facing challenges with pilot turnover due to alleged pressure to fly in adverse weather conditions or under questionable maintenance circumstances. The airline has even filed breach of contract lawsuits against approximately 80 pilots, as revealed by the article.

The Virginia Department of Transportation swiftly redirected road traffic off the southbound parkway lanes onto Yardley Ridge Drive and then onto Arcola Mills Drive before rejoining the southbound parkway. This measure was taken to ensure the safety of motorists in the vicinity of the emergency landing site.

As investigations continue, it remains to be seen what led to this emergency landing. Nevertheless, the prompt actions of the pilots and the efforts of emergency responders ensured that a potentially dangerous situation ended without any harm to those on board.