ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard says a small plane crashed into the waters off Florida during takeoff but the two people onboard are safe.
Petty Officer Michael De Nyse said the plane crashed into Tampa Bay on Friday morning shortly after taking off from Alfred Whitted Airport.
He said a nearby Coast Guard ship rescued the two passengers that WFTS-TV identified as 78-year-old Gerald Kerr and 72-year-old Elizabeth Reynolds.
Two good Samaritans who swam toward the plane to try to help in the rescue, made it back to shore safely.
De Nyse says no one was seriously hurt.