A seaplane crash-landed on the coast of a remote island near the US-Canada border, with all 11 people on board escaping before the aircraft exploded into a fireball. Emergency crews rushed to the scene, and a major rescue operation is underway.
Crash details
The Kenmore Air plane went down about 87 nautical miles from Seattle in the US on Thursday (July 24), coming down near Sucia Island in Washington state's San Juan Islands just before 5.30pm local time. Thick smoke was seen rising from the area following the crash. It is understood there were significant thunderstorms in the area when the plane went down.
Rescue and response
The US Coast Guard and air medical transport provider Airlift North West have been observed hovering over Shallow Bay, according to flight tracking data. A spokesperson for Kenmore Air said the aircraft departed Seattle's Lake Union at around 4.30pm on Thursday and was heading for Roche Harbour on San Juan Island.
Initial reports indicated the flight was carrying 10 people, while Orcas Island Fire & Rescue initially reported as many as 11 patients involved in the crash. The US Coastguard has since confirmed 11 people were on board, with all accounted for.
A spokesperson for the US Coastguard said: "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. Several patients are being transported to local hospitals for medical evaluation and treatment."
Ongoing efforts
According to local broadcaster Komo News, the US Coast Guard is leading rescue efforts at the scene. Several emergency agencies have also responded, including Orcas Island Fire & Rescue, San Juan Island Fire & Rescue, Lopez Island Fire & Rescue, San Juan County Parks and the San Juan County Sheriff's Office. Rescue efforts remain ongoing, and there has been no official confirmation of the type of aircraft involved or what caused the crash. However, FlightRadar data indicates the aircraft may have been a Kenmore Air DHC-3 Otter floatplane, registration N709KA.
