Mark Finkelstein: Cool Head Saves Life in Ocean Emergency Landing

On the evening of August 2, 2025, Mark Finkelstein lifted off from Cape Fear Regional Jetport in Oak Island, North Carolina, in his two-seater Jabiru aircraft—affectionately nicknamed "Air Finky"—for what should have been a routine 20-minute coastal flight.

Thirteen minutes later, everything changed.

"At some point, the engine started to lose power," Finkelstein recalled. "At a certain point, the engine just stopped altogether and the propeller just stopped."

The 17-year veteran pilot faced an impossible choice: attempt to reach the jetport, aim for a crowded beach, or ditch in the ocean. With beachgoers filling the sand below and no power to return to the airport, Finkelstein made the call to land in the water just off Oak Island Pier.

"My entire focus was to stick to my training," he said. "As per training, no time to be afraid."

The impact flipped the aircraft, leaving it mostly submerged and upside down in the Atlantic. Finkelstein found himself trapped underwater, surviving on a small pocket of air in the back of the cabin. In what could have been his final moments, training kicked in—he had opened the door before impact, giving rescuers a way in.

By extraordinary fortune, the Oak Island Beach Safety Unit was already nearby, having just completed another water rescue. Within minutes, they reached the submerged aircraft. Using drone oversight for coordination, rescuers guided Finkelstein feet-first through the windshield and out from under the water.

The extraction took less than 30 seconds.

Finkelstein walked away with only a minor cut on his leg, later writing on Facebook: "My deepest gratitude to all those who participated in rescuing and caring for me after my water landing. You were literally life savers!"

In August, Finkelstein returned to the Southport Fire Department to personally thank his rescuers and present them with an Appreciation Award—a small gesture for those who gave him a second chance at life.