BOCA RATON, Fla. — A young Florida pilot is describing herself as “incredibly fortunate” after she was forced to make a dramatic emergency landing in the Atlantic Ocean and swim back to shore.
Faith Tenkley, 23, had been flying toward the Bahamas on Saturday to pick up her parents when the flight suddenly turned into a fight for survival.
Tenkley had departed Page Field Airport in Fort Myers shortly before 8:50 a.m. But about 15 miles off the coast of Boca Raton, the pilot encountered serious mechanical problems.
Her right engine failed, while the aircraft’s landing gear also broke, leaving her with few safe options as she approached the Florida coast.
Instead of attempting to bring the plane down at Boca Raton Airport, Tenkley made the decision to ditch the aircraft in the Atlantic.
Pilot Chose Open Water Over Airport Landing
Tenkley said she was concerned that attempting to land at the airport could create an additional danger because of the amount of fuel the plane was carrying.
The pilot was flying a Piper PA-30 propeller aircraft and decided that open water was the safer option.
“I am incredibly fortunate and relieved to share that I was able to swim away from this incident,” Tenkley, who has been a pilot for four years, told on Saturday.
“After deciding a landing at Boca Raton Airport was not the safest option I continued to the coast. During the descent my primary focus was ensuring the safety of everyone around me.”
The decision required Tenkley to carefully control the aircraft while also making sure she did not put people on the ground or in the water at risk.
She ultimately guided the plane toward an area of open water.
Pilot Avoids Beachgoers During Controlled Landing
Tenkley said she was focused on avoiding nearby buildings and people as she brought the aircraft down.
“I was able to navigate toward open water, successfully avoiding all nearby buildings, paddleboarders, and swimmers (as well as individuals using metal detectors). I am incredibly fortunate and relieved to share that I was able to swim away from this incident.”
The plane came down on the water less than an hour after takeoff, with video from the scene appearing to show a relatively controlled ditching.
People on the beach watched in disbelief as the aircraft approached the shoreline.
Maria Marks, who was at the beach with her child, said the sudden sight of the plane caught her completely off guard.
“One second I’m spraying sunscreen on my kid. The next I’m looking up and saying, ‘Is that supposed to be happening?’” Marks told.
Witnesses Watch Plane Come Down Near Shore
Other witnesses also described the tense moments as the aircraft came in low over the water. Alex Bester told that he initially wasn’t sure whether the plane would land on the sand or in the ocean.
“They went for the shallow water which I think is kinda smart,” he said.
The pilot’s choice to head toward the water ultimately allowed her to avoid nearby buildings, swimmers and other people along the coast. After the aircraft came down, Tenkley was able to get out and swim back toward shore.
Her survival turned what could have been a much more serious aviation disaster into a dramatic emergency landing with the pilot escaping the wreckage.
Plane Removed as Investigation Continues
Tenkley was able to make her way safely back to land after the crash. Crews later removed the plane from the water, bringing an end to the immediate emergency response.
The incident remains a striking example of how quickly a routine flight can turn into an emergency, particularly when mechanical failures occur over open water.
For Tenkley, however, the defining moment was the decision to prioritize safety and steer the aircraft away from populated areas.
Her own description of the incident is perhaps the clearest reflection of what happened: she considers herself incredibly fortunate to have walked—and swum—away from the crash.
What do you think about the pilot’s decision to ditch the plane in the Atlantic rather than risk landing at the airport? Share your thoughts in the comments.
