A small plane was forced to make an emergency landing on a closed runway in the centre of the city Saturday, police confirm.

The plane made a "hard landing" at the Edmonton City Centre Airport after experiencing mechanical trouble Saturday afternoon. After hitting the ground, the glider flipped over.

A spokesperson for Edmonton Fire Rescue told the Canadian Press that the two seater plane was equipped with a parachute, which deployed during the landing.

The plane was heavily damaged after the landing, as the wind caught the open parachute and dragged the craft along the ground.

Police say the pilot was the only person on board, and wasn't injured.

The airport was closed in 2013 to make way for residential development.

The Transportation Safety Board is now investigating.