Pilot Makes Emergency Ocean Landing Off Boca Raton After Mechanical Failure
A 23-year-old pilot, Faith Tenkley, recounted her harrowing experience after making a split-second decision to land her plane in the ocean off the coast of Boca Raton due to mechanical issues. She was flying from Fort Myers to the Bahamas…
Miami Fort Lauderdale, FL, August 24, 2026 —
A pilot successfully executed an emergency water landing off the coast of Boca Raton after her aircraft experienced mechanical issues mid-flight. Faith Tenkley, 23, was en route from Fort Myers to the Bahamas when she encountered problems with both her landing gear and an engine.
Facing a critical situation, Tenkley made the decision to land in the ocean. She reportedly chose this course of action to avoid the risk of a potential fire associated with an airport landing given the mechanical problems. The maneuver was described as a split-second decision made under duress.
Tenkley managed to bring the plane down on the water, resulting in a water landing. Miraculously, she avoided injury, and no one else was harmed during the incident. Following the landing, rescue teams were dispatched and arrived promptly on the scene.
The aircraft was later recovered from the water. The full extent of the mechanical issues and the total cost of the aircraft recovery were not immediately available.
Story summarized from the original created by Rubén Rosario on wsvn.com, see more information here.
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