Definition
Unplanned landings made when continued flight is not possible or not safe, usually because of an engine failure, system malfunction, fire, fuel exhaustion, weather, medical issue, or other in-flight problem. Emergency landings fall into three general categories: a forced landing (an immediate landing required by complete loss of power or other critical failure, with the landing surface chosen by the pilot from whatever is available), a precautionary landing (a deliberate landing at a non-routine site while the airplane is still under control and power, made because conditions suggest continued flight is unwise), and a ditching (an emergency landing on water).
Plain English
A landing the pilot did not plan to make, carried out because something has gone wrong and getting the airplane on the ground safely now is more important than reaching the original destination.
Context Anchor
You will see this term in emergency training, engine-failure practice, preflight planning, and discussions of choosing a safe place to land when the normal plan is no longer the safest choice.
Derivation
Emergency comes from a Latin root meaning “to come up” or “to arise.” That fits the aviation meaning: an emergency landing is required because a serious situation has arisen and now needs immediate pilot action. Landing simply means bringing the aircraft down to a surface.
Why Pilots Care
Correct technique reduces risk of injury and aircraft damage when normal options are unavailable.
Grounding Statement
An emergency landing begins when continuing the flight normally is no longer the safest option.
Intuition Check
Do not assume “emergency landing” means a crash. In aviation, it means a landing made under urgent or abnormal conditions, with the pilot still working to keep control and choose the safest outcome.
Example Sentence 1
When the engine lost power on climb-out, the pilot turned toward an open field and set up for an emergency landing.
Example Sentence 2
Training emphasized emergency landings over water when no runway was reachable.