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Freeway pilot’s mom says she feels blessed

A blessing. That is exactly what Kelly Muno is calling what happened to her son, a former San Diego State University baseball star, on Friday afternoon.

SAN DIEGO (NEWS 8) - A blessing. That is exactly what Kelly Muno is calling what happened to her son, a former San Diego State University baseball star, on Friday afternoon. 

Ryan Muno and his student were performing a descent in preparation for landing at Gillespie Field when the engine of the Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee lost power.

Muno, who is 25-years-old, took the controls, diverted to the south and set the plane down on the north side of the freeway, near Second Street.

Kelly said she found out what happened to her son Ryan from a phone call from her daughter. She said her daughter told her, “Mom, don’t panic, don’t cry. Ryan is ok.”

She says Ryan’s calm demeanor as he took over the single engine plane from his student came as no surprise to her. She said she was amazed at how he maneuvered around power lines and cars on the freeway, but she knew that he was very concentrated. 

Ryan's first dream was to make it to Major League Baseball, but when he got injured his focus shifted to his second dream - flying. She says his passion and concentration is just what he needs to be successful. 

She says her son is working right now to become a commercial pilot and in her eyes after what happened Friday, he is already there. 

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