An emergency response involving nearby boaters and a Coast Guard helicopter has saved 11 lives after a seaplane crashed off Washington State.
The aircraft, which had departed from Lake Union in Seattle and was heading to Roche Harbor on San Juan Island, crashed and caught fire on Thursday evening at Sucia Island, a remote state park near the United States border with Canada. The plane was carrying a pilot and 10 passengers.
Authorities said nearby vessels quickly rushed to the scene, helping passengers escape from the burning aircraft before emergency teams arrived.
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that one person was in critical condition, while other passengers sustained injuries including head trauma, broken bones and cuts. At least five people had been discharged from hospitals by Friday.
Videos from the scene showed the plane flying low over the water before making a hard landing. The aircraft appeared to strike the surface on one float before bouncing into the air and crashing onto the rocky shoreline, where it was engulfed in flames.
Witnesses said several boats in the area immediately moved closer to assist passengers as thick smoke rose from the wreckage.
The aircraft was operated by Kenmore Air and identified as a DHC-3 Otter floatplane. The same model was involved in a 2022 crash near Seattle that killed 10 people, although officials said Thursday’s incident involved a different operator. The cause of the crash remains unknown, with investigations underway by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Kenmore Air Chief Executive Officer, David Gudgel, said the company was grateful that everyone onboard had been accounted for and pledged full cooperation with investigators.
