US News
Pilot safely ditches twin-engine plane off Florida coast following mechanical failure
A 23-year-old pilot escaped without injuries after landing her aircraft in the Atlantic Ocean near Boca Raton.
The short version
- A 23-year-old pilot made an emergency landing in the Atlantic Ocean off Boca Raton, Florida, on Saturday morning after encountering severe mechanical failures.
- The pilot, Faith Tenkley, was the sole occupant and was uninjured after navigating away from beachgoers and watercraft.
- Lifeguards and ocean rescue personnel assisted the pilot to shore, and she was transported to a hospital as a precaution.
Key facts
- Faith Tenkley, 23, executed an emergency water landing off the coast of Boca Raton at approximately 9:40 a.m. local time on Saturday.[Fox News]
- Tenkley was flying a twin-engine Piper solo from Page Field in Fort Myers toward Bimini in the Bahamas when the aircraft experienced a right engine failure and landing gear issues.[Fox News]
- According to Tenkley, she opted for an ocean landing over an emergency runway attempt due to malfunctioning gear and concerns that a hard touchdown could ignite the plane's fuel.[Fox News]
- First responders from Boca Raton Ocean Rescue and a beach lifeguard reached the pilot shortly after touchdown, and police reported no injuries.[Fox News]
What remains uncertain
- The precise root mechanical cause of the dual engine and landing gear failures has not yet been detailed by aviation investigators.[Fox News]