A young pilot from Florida has captured hearts and headlines after performing a daring emergency landing in the Atlantic Ocean. Faith Tenkley, just 23 years old, faced a life-threatening situation when her plane malfunctioned while en route to the Bahamas to pick up her parents.
On Saturday morning, Faith was flying her Piper PA-39 twin-engine aircraft when disaster struck approximately 15 miles off the coast of Boca Raton. An engine failure combined with a broken landing gear forced her to make the split-second decision to ditch the plane into the ocean. Her father, Chad Tenkley, expressed immense pride in his daughter’s flying skills, noting that aviation runs in the family.
“I have my pilot’s license also, and she flies commercially,” Chad shared, highlighting the family’s deep connection to flying. The 1971 aircraft belongs to his aviation company, usoarflorida LLC, although Faith does not operate commercially for the business.
In a statement released after the incident, Faith expressed her gratitude for escaping unharmed. “I feel incredibly fortunate to have swum away from this,” she said, reflecting on the harrowing experience. She had taken off from Fort Myers just before 8:50 a.
m. , aiming for Bimini to collect her parents, but trouble arose less than an hour into the flight.
As she approached the coast, Faith realized that landing at Boca Raton Airport was not a viable option. Instead, she expertly guided her plane toward open water, avoiding nearby buildings, swimmers, and even beachgoers with metal detectors. “My primary focus was ensuring the safety of everyone around me,” she explained.
Witnesses on the beach were left in awe as they watched the dramatic landing unfold. “One second I’m spraying sunscreen on my kid, and the next I’m looking up and saying, ‘Is that supposed to be happening?’” recalled beachgoer Maria Marks.
Another witness, Alex Bester, commended Faith’s decision to aim for shallow water, calling it “kinda smart.”
After successfully reaching the shore, Faith was met by lifeguards who assisted her. Crews later worked to recover the plane from the ocean. In a heartwarming reunion, she embraced her parents, who had flown back from the Bahamas on another flight.
“Fortunately, there was a flight out right away, and we just flew into Miami and then met her,” Chad said.
Faith’s incredible story of survival and skill has left many wondering what other adventures await this young pilot. What will be her next flight?
