Plane Crash: A seaplane crashed into rocks near a remote island close to the Canadian border in Washington state on Thursday evening. The aircraft caught fire following the crash, but thanks to the swift actions of nearby boats and the US Coast Guard, all 11 people on board were safely rescued. According to the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, one person remains in serious condition. Several passengers suffered head injuries and broken bones; however, at least five passengers had been discharged from the hospital by Friday.
How did the crash occur?
The accident took place around 5:20 PM on Thursday. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and 10 passengers. The seaplane crashed near the uninhabited Sucia Island State Park in Washington. Located in the northern part of the San Juan Islands, this island is a popular tourist destination known for ferry services, whale watching, and hiking. Videos surfacing on social media show the aircraft flying very low over the water. It suddenly banked to one side and touched the water on just one float. The plane then briefly bounced back into the air but lost control and crashed into the rocky shore.
Rescue operation launched immediately after the crash
Eyewitness Dave Eastman was out on the water in his small boat at the time. He initially thought the plane might collide with his boat, but it was later seen descending toward the island. There were six or seven boats in the area, including aluminum fishing boats; everyone rushed to the scene to help. Videos show passengers escaping the aircraft while black smoke billowed out and the fuselage was engulfed in flames. The nose of the plane had struck a large rock and was partially submerged in the water. ‘The incident was harrowing’
Dave Eastman took photos of the burning plane after all passengers had been safely evacuated. He said, “This incident was harrowing for all of us. But it was a relief to know that everyone is alive.” Eastman noted that the weather was clear earlier in the day, but a storm with lightning struck the area at the time of the accident. Heavy rain also began falling while the plane was on fire. However, it is not yet clear whether bad weather caused the crash.
A similar plane crashed in 2022 as well
The operator stated that the aircraft was a DHC-3 Otter seaplane, manufactured by de Havilland Aircraft of Canada. Another seaplane of the same model crashed in Puget Sound near Seattle in 2022, resulting in the deaths of 10 people. An investigation following that accident revealed a malfunction in a critical component of the aircraft’s flight control system. Consequently, federal regulators ordered inspections of all such seaplanes. However, the plane involved in this recent crash belonged to Kenmore Air, a tourism-focused airline based near Seattle; it is a different company from the one involved in the 2022 accident.
Investigation into the cause of the crash
Kenmore Air CEO David Goodjell stated that it would be inappropriate to speculate on the cause of the crash before the investigation is complete. He said, “We are glad that everyone on board has been accounted for and is safe.” The company cancelled all scheduled flights for Friday and stated that it would fully cooperate with investigative agencies. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the crash, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is also dispatching an investigative team to the site. Officials stated that facts are currently being gathered, so no media briefing will be held at this time.
