Dramatic video shows rescue after plane evacuating passengers from Milton crashes near St. Pete Pier

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Dramatic video released by the United States Coast Guard shows the dire rescue after a plane carrying four passengers and a dog evacuating from Hurricane Milton crashed near the St. Pete Pier Tuesday morning .

The small private plane crashed just east of the pier around 10:52 a.m. after the plane’s engine failed immediately after takeoff from the Albert Whitted Airport, the St. Petersburg Police Department said.

After crashing into the water, the plane became fully submerged — that’s when the Coast Guard found the passengers holding on to the plane’s tail wing.

“They just disappeared off the radar. We thought they went into the water, so we worked with the tower to basically suspend all aircraft operations at Albert Whitted,” a USCG crew member said. “The aircraft, which was floating, with four persons in the water and they were holding on to the tail wing of their aircraft.”

Luckily, all four passengers and the dog were safely rescued as a good Samaritan, St. Pete Fire Rescue and the police department pulled the people from the water.

Three passengers were treated at the scene and then taken to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

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