4 people, dog rescued after small plane crashes into Gulf in Hurricane Milton evacuation

Four people and a dog were saved by a U.S. Coast Guard Air Station aircrew after their private plane crashed into Florida waters amid an evacuation attempt ahead of the looming Hurricane Milton, according to the Coast Guard.

The aircraft went into the water off Albert Whitted Airport in St. Petersburg, Florida on Tuesday, the Miami-headquartered Coast Guard shared in an X post on Wednesday.

"A good Samaritan and St. Peterburg Fire Rescue pulled the people from the water," according to the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard did not identify the stranded people or say if any of them were injured in the aircraft crash.

When will Hurricane Milton make landfall?

Hurricane Milton was deemed a Category 5 hurricane late Tuesday, but it has reverted to a Category 4.

The powerful storm, which reached winds of 160 mph Tuesday evening, is heading toward the Tampa area and is expected to make landfall soon on the Florida Gulf Coast.

“Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida," John Cangialosi, a specialist with the National Hurricane Center, warned in an update on Tuesday.

How strong is Hurricane Milton?

Hurricane Milton has weakened since Tuesday, but it still presents an "extremely life-threatening situation" to Florida's Western coast, the National Hurricane Center warns.

Weeks before Milton's arrival, Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic damage to the Southeastern U.S. and led to more than 200 deaths. Hundreds of people are still missing in the aftermath of the Category 4 hurricane that had 140 mph winds when it made landfall along Florida's Big Bend on Sept. 26.

The National Weather Service in Tampa warned on Tuesday that if Milton stays on course, it would be “the most powerful hurricane to hit Tampa Bay in over 100 years.”