On Tuesday morning, a private plane carrying four passengers and a small dog crashed into Tampa Bay. The incident occurred as the passengers were attempting to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Milton, according to St. Petersburg Fire Rescue spokesperson Ashlie Handy.
The crash took place at approximately 10:50 a.m. east of the St. Petersburg Pier. Handy explained that the six-passenger Cherokee airplane experienced engine failure immediately after takeoff from Albert Whitted Airport, leading to the crash into the water just 300 yards east of the Pier. The plane was completely submerged by the time rescue crews arrived at the scene.
