3 People Injured After Small Plane Crashes While Attempting to Evacuate Ahead of Hurricane Milton

Mar. 15, 2025

A six-passenger plane crashed into Tampa Bay, Fla., on Tuesday, Oct. 8, after its engine failed during takeoff, a St. Petersburg Fire Rescue spokesperson Ashlie Handy confirmed to PEOPLE. The four passengers and a dog were trying to evacuate ahead ofHurricane Milton.

The private Cherokee plane attempted to take off from the Albert Whitted Airport, but its engine failed around 10:50 a.m. The plane crashed and became fully submerged in the water. It sank completely in the bay, approximately 300 yards east of the St. Pete Pier.

The passengers have not been publicly identified. They were all men between 25 and 40, Handy said.

The passengers had 70 gallons of fuel onboard and were trying to evacuate ahead ofHurricane Milton, Handy said.

Hurricane Milton Satellite at 10:00 GMT, Oct. 8, North of The Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.Goes-East/Noaa/Planet Pix via ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock

Goes-East/Noaa/Planet Pix via ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock

The group was trying to evacuate the storm, now a Category 5 hurricane, racingacross the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida. Residents who live on the western coast, including around the Tampa Bay area, have been told to evacuate ahead of potentially “life-threatening” storm conditions.

“If you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you’re going to die," Tampa Mayor Jane Castor warned residents onCNN.

Hurricane Milton.National Hurricane Center/NOAA/X.com

National Hurricane Center/NOAA/X.com

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Hurricane Milton is poised to be the costliest disaster in Florida’s history. That record was only set two years ago withHurricane Ian. Morales said that Milton has already eclipsed Ian in terms of its peak intensity.

source: people.com