A Kenmore Air plane crash-landed near Sucia Island in Washington state on Thursday, July 24, with all 11 people on board surviving the incident. The aircraft went down approximately 87 nautical miles from Seattle just before 5:30pm local time, amid substantial thunderstorms in the area.
Rescue Operation Underway
The US Coast Guard, Airlift North West, and multiple local emergency services responded to the scene at Shallow Bay. The San Juan County Sheriff's Office reported that one person is in critical condition, with injuries ranging from head injuries to broken bones and lacerations. Four people were transported to hospitals with serious injuries; the condition of the remaining seven was not immediately available.
Passengers Exited Before Explosion
All passengers managed to safely exit the plane before it exploded. A Kenmore Air spokesperson said the aircraft departed Lake Union around 4:30 pm, heading to Roche Harbour on San Juan Island, when it crash-landed. There were 10 passengers and a pilot on board.
A US Coast Guard spokesperson stated: "The aircraft had a reported 11 people aboard, and all are accounted for. United States Coast Guard, Canadian and local responders launched multiple assets to assist with the rescue." The spokesperson added that several patients are being transported to local hospitals for medical evaluation and treatment.
Aircraft Type and Cause Under Investigation
Recovery operations continue, and there has been no official confirmation regarding the aircraft type or what triggered the incident. FlightRadar data suggests the aircraft may have been a Kenmore Air DHC-3 Otter floatplane, registration N709KA.
