By Jack Prator for the Tampa Bay Times
A six-passenger plane crashed into Tampa Bay on Tuesday, October 8th, after its engine failed during takeoff from Albert Whitted Airport in downtown St. Petersburg.
Ashlie Handy, a spokesperson for St. Petersburg Fire Rescue, said three of the four passengers in the private Cherokee plane were taken to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital. A small dog also was aboard.
The crash occurred about 10:50 a.m. The passengers, all men between 25 and 40, were trying to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Milton, Handy said.
The plane landed 300 yards east of the St. Pete Pier and sank completely in the bay. The passengers and the dog were rescued 500 feet from shore by a good Samaritan operating a boat, Handy said. Fire rescue crews and St. Peterburg police arrived shortly after.
Authorities have not yet released the passengers’ names.
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