TAMPA, Fla. — Four people escaped injury Thursday afternoon when the helicopter they were in crashed into Tampa Bay near Davis Islands. Former Mizzou QB and Tampa Bay Buccaneers backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert played a significant part in rescuing the crash victims.
According to Tampa police, the aircraft went down into the water 200 yards from Peter O. Knight Airport just after 5 p.m.
The pilot said he heard a loud noise before the aircraft lost power.
Three passengers on a sight seeing tour and the pilot safely made it out of the submerged helicopter. Gabbert, nearby on jet skis with his two brothers, brought them all to shore.
Gabbert said they "were in the right place at the right time."
Hunter Hupp, 28, from Philadelphia was on the helicopter with his parents. The helicopter ride was a Christmas gift. Hupp said he and his parents had never been in a helicopter before.
The Tampa Police Department is currently coordinating with local and federal agencies for recovery of the helicopter.
