Small Aircraft Crashes into Atlantic Ocean After Engine Failure

A dramatic incident recently unfolded when a single-engine airplane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean shortly after takeoff from a North Carolina airfield, prompting a swift rescue effort.

The pilot, Mark Finkelstein, experienced an engine failure just minutes after departing from Cape Fear Regional Jetport. With a crowded beach nearby and unable to safely make it back to the airport, he chose to perform an emergency water landing near the Oak Island Pier. The aircraft initially tumbled upon impact and ended up mostly submerged, upright in the water.

Rescue footage captured the ordeal, showing Finkelstein surviving on a small pocket of air in the cabin. Rescuers pulled him out feet-first through the windshield in a matter of seconds, guiding him to safety headfirst. Remarkably, the entire rescue operation lasted only around 30 seconds.

Finkelstein expressed his gratitude afterward, saying, “My deepest gratitude to all those who rescued and cared for me after my water landing… You were lifesavers!” He later visited the Southport Fire Department Caswell Station to thank the rescuers and present them with an award for their quick response.