On Wednesday evening, a helicopter carrying a pilot and three passengers made an emergency landing into the water near the Davis Islands Yacht Club in Tampa, Florida.
The incident occurred as the helicopter was on its approach to land at Peter O. Knight Airport following a tour. The pilot and passengers reported hearing a loud bang before the aircraft lost power.
The Tampa Police Department and Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office worked together to rescue the four individuals aboard the helicopter. Good Samaritans, including Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Blaine Gabbert, helped pull the passengers onto their vessels. All individuals involved in the incident were safely rescued and no injuries were reported.
Interim Chief Lee Bercaw praised the teamwork and community involvement in the successful rescue operation. “We often say that we cannot do our jobs well without the community and that we are safer, together,” he said. “Yesterday was an amazing example of how teamwork, not only in the sports world but also in our hometown, is why our area is known as Champa Bay.”