Terrifying moment plane plunges into sea in front of stunned beach-goers after ‘engine cut out’ minutes into flight

THIS is the terrifying moment a plane crashes into the sea after the engine cut out just minutes into the flight.

Rescuers dramatically pulled pilot Mark Finkelstein from the submerged cabin in the Atlantic water near Oak Island Pier, North Carolina.

Single-engine plane making an emergency water landing.

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Here the plane is just about to attempt an emergency landing after the engine cut outCredit: You Tube/ Town of Oak Island
Two people on a beach watch a large wave break in the ocean.

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The plane smashes into the water’s surface with huge splash in front of gasping beach-goersCredit: You Tube/ Town of Oak Island
Pilot rescued from submerged plane wreckage.

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Mark Finkelstein, the pilot, had to be pulled from the cabin legs-firstCredit: You Tube/ Town of Oak Island

Footage shows the single-engine aircraft skidding down onto the water after the motor packed it in.

Mark, a pilot of 17 years, was forced to attempt an emergency landing as the propeller fell still.

But as the bottom of the plane catches the wave, the plane somersaults forwards.

It flops onto the surface, upside down, creating a huge splash.

Gasps can be heard from beach-goers – with some throwing their hands over their mouths and one crying: “Oh my God!”

Another clip shows heroic members of Oak Island Water Rescue dragging Mark by his legs from the cabin.

Mark’s head is underwater as he is extracted backwards from the plane, but he bobs up to take a huge breath of air as soon as he’s clear.

Two rescuers in the water then help him onto a waiting Jet Ski to be whizzed to safety.

His plane is left bobbing with the wings on the surface and the nose pointing downwards.

Mark had only been in the air for 13 minutes when “the engine just stopped”, he told WECT 6.

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He said: “The propeller just stopped and at that point it was very clear that I was going to be making a landing in the water.”

With zero power, Mark had no chance of making it back to Cape Fear Regional Jetport, where he’d taken off from.

Oak Island Fire Department said “The plane came to rest mostly submerged in an upright position.

“Surviving on a small pocket of air in the back of the aircraft’s cabin, Finkelstein was guided by rescuers feet-first, under the water and out through the windshield.”

Pilot holding aircraft registration after water landing.

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Mark had been a pilot for 17 years and said his training kicked in when the engine cut outCredit: Facebook
Pilot being rescued from a submerged plane.

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The plane flipped over and slapped down onto the surfaceCredit: You Tube/ Town of Oak Island
Rescuers pulling a pilot from a submerged plane.

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Oak Islands Rescuers helped Mark onto an emergency Jet SkiCredit: You Tube/ Town of Oak Island

It was less than 30 seconds after crashing that Mark was pulled out of the plane, according to the Fire Department.

Miraculously, Mark’s only injury was a cut on his leg which needed stitches at hospital.

Mark reflected: “I was so fortunate that the impact didn’t injure me and doubly fortunate that the Oak Island Water Rescue got to me so quickly. That was huge. That was the key to the whole thing.”

And revealing what was going through his head as the plane stormed towards the sea, Mark said: “I wasn’t focused on what I was going to do as a result of the crash, I was focused on the training and what I felt I needed to do.

“You know, get the door open before I landed, that sort of thing. I just focused on what I needed to do and wasn’t thinking further ahead than that.”

Mark Finkelstein, pilot who made emergency water landing.

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Mark said he was fortunate to have avoided more severe injuryCredit: Facebook
Pilot in cockpit above clouds.

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The pilot was only wanting to take a 20-minute recreational flightCredit: Facebook

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