Dramatic Emergency Ocean Landing by Skilled Young Pilot Stuns Florida Beachgoers

On Saturday, Florida beachgoers watched a dramatic scene unfold as a small plane made an emergency ocean crash landing.

Twenty-three-year-old Faith Tenkley was on her way from Fort Myers, Florida, to the Bahamas to pick up her family in a Piper PA30 series twin-engine propeller plane. As she neared Boca Raton, one of her engines failed, forcing her to take emergency action.

Tenkley told Gulf Coast News she’s been a pilot for four years.

About 15 miles west of Boca, she said she started having mechanical issues. Her initial plan was to make an emergency landing at Boca’s airport. She then said her landing gear broke, and she figured it would be a bad idea to try and land on the runway since the plane still had a lot of fuel and a hard landing could spark a fire.

By this time, Tenkley said the right engine on the twin-engine plane had failed, and she decided it was safer to land in the water. She said she had to dodge buildings near the coast and paddleboarders, but managed to find an empty spot next to the beach. Tenkley said the landing in the ocean was smooth and a lifeguard got to her within a minute, with the fire rescue boat close behind.

WPBF reports that initially, Tenkley hoped to be able to make an emergency landing at  Boca’s airport but became aware that her landing gear was broken and worried a fire could be sparked.

By this time, the right engine on the twin-engine plane had failed, said decided it was safer to land in the water. She had to dodge buildings near the coast and paddleboarders, but managed to find an empty spot next to the beach.

The landing in the ocean was smooth. A lifeguard got to her within a minute, and the fire rescue boat was close behind, she said.

Video of the landing can be seen here.

Tenkley was comforted by a lifeguard following the rescue.

The Boca Raton Police Department that, while injuries were reported, she was taken to an area hospital as a precautionary measure.

“The sole occupant of the plane was transported to an area hospital as a precaution. The Boca Raton Police Marine Unit and the U.S. Coast Guard remain on scene while the FAA is en route. The public is asked to please not attempt to approach the immediate area.”

11:10 am: The sole occupant of the plane was transported to an area hospital as a precaution. The Boca Raton Police Marine Unit and the U.S. Coast Guard remain on scene while the FAA is en route. The public is asked to please not attempt to approach the immediate area. pic.twitter.com/9TKaJ448II

— Boca Raton Police (@BocaPolice) August 22, 2026

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