A younger Florida pilot who crash-landed her aircraft in the Atlantic Ocean after experiencing a mechanical failure has said she’s extremely lucky to have been ready to swim away from the incident.

Faith Tenkley, 23, was heading to the Bahamas on Saturday to accumulate her mother and father but was compelled to make an emergency touchdown off the coast of Boca Raton, Florida, after her proper engine failed and her touchdown gear broke. 

She determined to ditch her Piper PA30 propeller aircraft in the water amid fears touchdown at Boca Raton airport could spark a fireplace given the gas load she was carrying.

Faith Tenkley, 23, walked away from her crash over the weekend unhurt. Faith Tenkley

“I am incredibly fortunate and relieved to share that I was able to swim away from this incident,” Tenkley, a pilot of 4 years, advised WPTV on Saturday.

“After deciding a touchdown at Boca Raton Airport was not the most secure choice I continued to the coast. During the descent my main focus was making certain the security of everyone around me. 

“I was able to navigate toward open water, successfully avoiding all nearby buildings, paddleboarders, and swimmers (as well as individuals using metal detectors). I am incredibly fortunate and relieved to share that I was able to swim away from this incident.”

Tenkley left Page Field airport in Fort Myers just before 8:50 a.m. but ran into difficulties around 15 miles off Boca Raton. 

She expertly introduced the aircraft down on the water less than an hour after take-off, with video capturing the rather managed touchdown as she averted crashing into folks and buildings. 

Tenkley expertly introduced her aircraft down on the water off the coast of Boca Raton, Fla.

The aircraft’s tail was sticking in the air after she made the emergency touchdown.

Witnesses on the seashore were left shocked as they watched the pilot in motion.

“One second I’m spraying sunscreen on my kid. The next I’m looking up and saying, ‘Is that supposed to be happening?’” Maria Marks, a beachgoer, advised WPBF. 

Alex Bester, another witness, advised WPLG he initially didn’t know if the aircraft was going to land on the sand or in the water after it “came in low.”

“They went for the shallow water which I think is kinda smart,” he said. 

Tenkley was ready to make her manner back to the shore and crews have since eliminated the aircraft from the water.