Plane Carrying Passengers Evacuating From Hurricane Milton Crashes Shortly After Takeoff

A small private plane evacuating passengers from the threat of Hurricane Milton crashed into Tampa Bay shortly after takeoff from Albert Whitted Airport in St. Petersburg on Tuesday morning (Oct. 9).

Authorities report that the private plane, carrying four passengers and a small dog, encountered engine failure around 10:50 a.m., forcing it to plunge into the bay just 300 yards east of the St. Pete Pier. The plane, a six-passenger Cherokee, became fully submerged in the water after impact.

The passengers, all men between the ages of 25 and 40, were fleeing the area ahead of the approaching hurricane. According to the Tampa Bay Times,a good Samaritan in a nearby boat quickly responded, rescuing the passengers and the dog about 500 feet from shore. Emergency crews from St. Petersburg Fire Rescue and local police arrived shortly after to assist.

Three of the passengers sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital for further treatment. The fourth passenger and the dog were unharmed. The identities of those involved have not yet been released.

The crash is under investigation, but preliminary reports from WFLA indicate that engine failure was the cause.

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