A young female pilot safely landed a small aeroplane in the ocean just off a busy Florida beach, the New York Post reported, adding that the landing was smooth and the woman swam away from the aircraft without any injuries. A dramatic video of the incident went viral after it was shared on social media.
The plane experienced engine trouble, forcing an emergency landing close to Boca Raton, according to the report.
“One second I’m spraying sunscreen on my kid. The moment she came out of the single-engine plane, locals and lifeguards and emergency responders reached her within minutes to help her out of the water.
The next I’m looking up and saying, ‘Is that supposed to be happening?'” Maria Marks, a beachgoer who witnessed the incident, told WPBF .
Emergency crews inspected the pilot at the scene and confirmed she suffered no injuries. Local authorities praised her quick thinking for guiding the plane away from packed beach areas, preventing any casualties on the ground. A pilot who was present on the beach praised Tenkley. “The most important part they teach you in emergency support or anything is to fly the aeroplane all the way down.
The report mentioned that Tenkley had taken off in her family’s Piper PA30 plane to fly around 150 miles from Fort Myers to pick up her parents in the Bahamas.
Based on the fact that it’s all in one piece… it seems like the pilot did that,” said the pilot as quoted by the New York Post.
