TAMPA, Fla. — Three men were taken to the hospital as trauma alerts following a fiery small plane crash Friday afternoon in Tampa.
Tampa Police said the crash happened at N Ward Street and W Laurel Street, which is near Tampa International Airport and several hotels.
Tampa Fire Rescue said three men were on board the small piper aircraft, which was heading toward TPA. No one on the ground was injured.
But the three passengers aboard the aircraft are said to have suffered from second to third-degree burns in the crash, according to the Tampa Police Department. Officers also say two of the men have multiple broken bones. All are reported to be alert at this time.
Tampa Fire's Jason Penny said crews were already stationed on a runway at the airport after the plane's pilot radioed the tower to say the craft was having an emergency, which turned out to be emergency engine failure ahead of the crash, according to officers.
Penny said it's not yet known what was happening with the plane leading up to the crash.
Tampa Fire said a Tampa police officer was stationed nearby and was the first person on the scene following the crash. The officer was able to see the three men on board exit the plane before it became fully engulfed in flames.
"It's amazing, it's miraculous," Penny said, noting that it's a good sign the three men were able to walk away from the crash.
Emily Nipps with Tampa International Airport said based on Flight Aware information, the plane was coming from Zephyrhills. She also said the small plane is a Piper Cherokee 140 aircraft.
As it crashed, Tampa Fire said the plane hit some power lines and pulled a power pole close to the ground. Penny said TECO is now on scene making repairs to the lines. No buildings were impacted in the crash.
The crash investigation is now being handled by the National Transportation Safety Board.
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