aliciadogz Posted December 20, 2013 Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 TAMPA (FOX 13) - A small plane crashed at Tampa International Airport overnight, leaving the pilot with serious injuries. But it could have been a lot worse, if not for a vigilant Tampa Police Department helicopter crew. TPD says two of its officers heard the pilot's distress call before he crashed just inside TIA's property, and those officers may have been able to save that pilot's life. According to Lt. Richard O'Conner, officers Dave Dennison and Brian Gentry were in a helicopter patrol when they saw the crash. LINK: Watch the TPD footage on YouTube Video from helicopter shows the crew landed the helicopter, extinguished an engine fire, and got the unconscious pilot out of the wreckage as the plane teetered on an embankment. "They immediately ran out and got out to the plane and assisted in putting out that fire," O'Conner said. FOX 13 has also obtained the distress call, where the air traffic controller asks the pilot if he needs assistance. The pilot initially told dispatchers that he was running low on oil. "No sir, let me talk to you on the ground," the pilot responds. "I'm running a little rough, but I should be able to make it, though." The air traffic controllers reported that as the pilot made his approach into the runway he came up short. The NTSB is now conducting its investigation. Airport officials say the small plane was a Cessna 210N belonging to Air Net. The pilot, who has not been identified, remains at St. Joseph's Hospital with serious injuries. Flight delays are not expected at TIA. Read more: http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/24269716/2013/12/20/officers-pull-pilot-from-tia-crash-police-say#ixzz2o30XORBT Follow us: @myfoxtampabay on Twitter | FOX13TampaBay on Facebook 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SgtFuryUSCZ Posted December 21, 2013 Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 ***/// We're so close to TIA we watch the planes take off and land from our chairs by the pool. We sure never saw this until it hit our local news.... yup, pretty awesome ! Guess The Good Lord wasn't ready to take this pilot 'home' quite yet, so sent these Angels is way ! Thanks, MYDOGZ ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiveDeepSix Posted December 21, 2013 Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 Cool story thanks for the post! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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