On August 22, 23-year-old pilot Faith Tenkley made an emergency landing in the Atlantic Ocean off Boca Raton, Florida. Her quick action and expert handling of a twin-engine Piper aircraft led to a safe landing, earning her praise from authorities.
Tenkley skillfully directed the plane away from the crowded beach and paddleboarders, prioritizing the safety of others. Her focus on open water allowed her to avoid buildings and people as she navigated the descent. “During the descent, my primary focus was ensuring the safety of everyone around me,” Tenkley said in a statement to Fox News.
A viral video captured her calm execution of the smooth water landing, showing onlookers reacting with surprise. Despite the surrounding chaos, one man continued using a metal detector throughout the incident.
After the landing, Tenkley expressed gratitude for the support and well wishes she received. “I am incredibly fortunate and relieved to share that I was able to swim away from this incident,” she stated. Her initial attempt to land at Boca Raton Airport was thwarted by landing gear failure and engine issues.
Tenkley thanked the air traffic control team, along with the lifeguards, firefighters, and police officers who responded swiftly. The Federal Aviation Administration reported that Tenkley encountered mechanical problems during a flight from Page Field in Fort Myers, Florida, to Bimini in the Bahamas. The right engine failed 15 miles west of Boca Raton.
Footage shows the plane’s tail above the water’s surface after landing. Tenkley, dressed in a bikini for her swim, received immediate assistance from a lifeguard and was shortly joined by a Boca Raton Ocean Rescue fire boat. She went to the hospital as a precaution, uninjured.
Initially, some online viewers mistook Tenkley for a surfer helping a male pilot. She clarified the confusion, mentioning her removal of a long skirt before swimming to shore.