Pilot Lands Plane Safely after Hitting Deer

(MYFOX NATIONAL) - A pilot trying to land at an airport in Grayslake, Ill., had a different sort of crash landing when he hit a deer.

The Daily Herald reported that John Olson was nearly touching down Sunday at the airport when a deer tumbled onto the runway in front of him. Olson, 52, thought he could pass over the deer but decided it was too risky and pulled the twin-engine plane up.

It wasn't enough to keep the bottom of the plane from hitting the deer. He left the Campbell Airport and headed to the Chicago Executive Airport in Wheeling because its control tower could help him land.

MyFox Chicago reported that the plane landed in Wheeling on two wheels "without incident" and came to rest on its left wing. No one was injured.

Deb Olson, John's wife, said she told everyone to make sure their seatbelts were secure and tightened. "We just kind of all held hands and prayed in the back like crazy," she said.

The airport manager found the deer, who had suffered a broken leg, and put it down.

Olson, a 15-year pilot, plans to return to flying when his plane is fixed.