US: Police arrest drunk pilot for landing plane on highway

An intoxicated pilot was arrested after landing a small aircraft early Friday on Interstate 70 southeast of Kansas City, Missouri, after radioing that he had run out of fuel, authorities said.

The landing about 2.30am east of Grain Valley, roughly 32 kilometres southeast of Kansas City, closed westbound lanes of the highway for more than 2 1/2 hours, KCTV reported.

The plane had a "minor collision" with a guardrail but otherwise didn't hit anything, the Missouri State Highway Patrol tweeted.

The pilot was the only person on board. He suffered minor injuries and was taken to an area hospital for treatment after his arrest, the patrol said.

The patrol said the pilot radioed that he had run out of fuel and had to make an emergency landing on the highway.