A small plane landed in the Atlantic Ocean off Boca Raton on Saturday, Aug. 22. The pilot, the lone person on board, not only survived but climbed out of the plane uninjured.
The landing happened shortly before 10 a.m. as people crowded the beach near Ocean Boulevard and East Palmetto Park Road and witnessed the pilot bring the Piper PA30 down in the shallow waters not far from the shore.
The Federal Aviation Administration is leading the investigation into the incident, and crews were expected to remove the plane from the water on Sunday, Aug. 23.
Here are five things to know about the landing.
What kind of plane landed in the waters off Boca Raton?
The FAA described the plane as a Piper 30A, a small aircraft often used in flight training and by recreational pilots. They generally can seat up to six
people and fly at speeds of 165 to 200 mph.
What caused the plane to land in the Atlantic?
The FAA will issue a report on the incident, but Boca Raton Fire Rescue reported that the plane began experiencing issues. At one point, the pilot had hoped to land at Boca Raton Airport but made the in-flight decision to land in the ocean instead, avoiding buildings and people on its way down.
Where did the plane take off and where was it headed?
Authorities said the plane left Page Field in Fort Myers and was headed to Bimini Airport in the Bahamas. The length of the flight is about 165 miles.
Who was the pilot?
The FAA has not released a name, but WZVN-TV, a Fort Myers known as Gulf Coast ABC, identified the pilot as 23-year-old Faith Tenkley. Its story said she has flown for four years and was headed to the Bahamas to meet her parents.
What will happen to the plane?
Crews working with the FAA and local authorities were scheduled to remove the plane from the ocean on Sunday, Aug. 24. They will take it to an unspecified secure facility and examine it for the agency's report into the crash.
Tom Elia is an editor at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at telia@pbpost.com. Support local journalism: Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Plane lands in ocean off Boca Raton: Here are 5 things to know
