Florida pilot, 23, ditches plane after engine failure while flying to Bahamas to pick up parents

BOCA RATON, FLORIDA: A 23-year-old pilot flying from Florida to the Bahamas to pick up her parents found herself in a terrifying midair emergency after her plane suffered multiple mechanical failures.

The young pilot, who has been flying for four years, ultimately chose to land the twin-engine aircraft in the Atlantic rather than risk a dangerous runway landing.

The dramatic incident unfolded off Boca Raton on Saturday morning, with stunned beachgoers watching from the shore.

Pilot Faith Tenkley faces multiple failures midair

Tenkley had taken off from Page Field in Fort Myers and was heading to South Bimini Airport in the Bahamas, about 70 miles across the water.

She was flying the family's aircraft and planned to collect her parents in Bimini. But about two miles east of Boca Raton Airport, the flight quickly turned into an emergency.

Tenkley said she first began experiencing mechanical problems before deciding to divert to Boca Raton Airport. Then, the aircraft's landing gear broke.

With a significant amount of fuel still on board, she feared landing on a runway without functioning landing gear could lead to a hard landing and possibly start a fire.

The situation became even more serious when the plane's right engine failed. With few options left, Tenkley decided the ocean was the safer choice.

She maneuvered around buildings as she approached the coastline and spotted paddleboarders in the water below. She eventually found a clear stretch of ocean and guided the aircraft down.

The landing was controlled and surprisingly smooth. The plane remained intact, and Tenkley was able to climb out on her own without injuries.

Beachgoers watch plane land in Atlantic

The incident happened at around 9:40 am, triggering a response from police, lifeguards and the US Coast Guard.

For people enjoying a Saturday morning at the beach, the scene came without warning.

"One second I'm spraying sunscreen on my kid. The next I'm looking up and saying, 'Is that supposed to be happening?'" Beachgoer Maria Marks told WPBF. A lifeguard reached Tenkley within about a minute, while a fire rescue boat arrived soon after.

Michael and Alexis Arizzi were also nearby on a boat with their toddler, Sebastian. They said they were the first boat to alert the Coast Guard.

"The plane was making a slow descent and delicately landed into the water," Alexis said. Her husband, who works as an aircraft mechanic at Boca Airport, also had a close connection to the aviation community monitoring the incident.

Plane slowly sinks as FAA investigates

The aircraft initially appeared largely undamaged after hitting the water.

"The plane is totally intact," resident Robert Taplinger told WPBF. But as the hours passed, the aircraft sank lower into the Atlantic, eventually leaving only its tail visible as crews prepared to remove it.

The FAA identified the aircraft as a Piper PA-39, part of Piper's PA-30 series of twin-engine propeller planes. The aircraft was registered to USOARFlorida LLC of Fort Myers.

The FAA is now expected to investigate what caused the mechanical problems that forced Tenkley to abandon her planned flight to the Bahamas.