An unopened part of the Peninsula Link freeway near Melbourne became a makeshift airport on the morning of June 11 when the pilot of a Cessna 172 flying from Tyabb was forced down due to thick fog.
50 year old pilot Russell Gray made the emergency landing after a thick fog that blanketed Melbourne made it difficult to navigate. According to Victoria Police the aircraft did not have any mechanical issues and did not pose a hazard to any traffic in the area. A police spokesman added that Gray hoped to refuel the aircraft and take off from the freeway back to Tyabb, subject to approval from CASA. The ATSB has been notified of the incident.
The Peninsula Link is scheduled to open next year.