Human Interest Real People Real People Tragedy 3 People Injured After Small Plane Crashes While Attempting to Evacuate Ahead of Hurricane Milton Four men between the ages of 25-40 crashed in a private plane trying to evacuate Florida's western coastline By Charna Flam Charna Flam Charna Flam is a writer-reporter at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2023. Her work has previously appeared on Variety, The New York Post, and The Wrap. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 9, 2024 01:09PM EDT Comments 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 of Hurricane 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. A nearby private boat with a St. Petersburg Police Department officer onboard “pulled the four passengers and a small dog from the water,” Handy told PEOPLE. The passengers were taken to Demens Landing, where they were met by St. Petersburg Fire Rescue firefighters, who began treatment and transport efforts. Three of the four passengers were taken to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital. 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 of Hurricane 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 Why Some Floridians Feel They Can't Evacuate Ahead of Hurricane Milton Despite Warnings Like 'You're Going to Die' The group was trying to evacuate the storm, now a Category 5 hurricane, racing across 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 on CNN. Hurricane Milton. National Hurricane Center/NOAA/X.com Mom Faces Backlash for Posting Packing Video for Family Trip to Disney World as Hurricane Milton Nears Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Veteran WTVJ meteorologist John Morales said that depending on what path Hurricane Milton takes, it is expected to make landfall on Wednesday, Oct. 9. Hurricane Milton is poised to be the costliest disaster in Florida’s history. That record was only set two years ago with Hurricane Ian. Morales said that Milton has already eclipsed Ian in terms of its peak intensity.