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The U.S. Coast Guard said Thursday that a Kenmore Air seaplane in Washington state with 11 people on board made an emergency landing near Sucia Island before catching fire, but everyone on the plane was accounted for after a rescue operation.
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Kenmore Air, the largest U.S. seaplane airline, said a de Havilland DHC-3 Otter plane that departed from Lake Union, Seattle, was involved in an accident in Shallow Bay near Sucia Island at about 5:15 p.m. PDT.
Sucia Island is in Washington state’s San Juan Islands, located north of Seattle near the Canadian border.
The FAA and NTSB are both investigating the incident.
The Coast Guard and Canadian and local responders launched multiple assets to assist with the rescue, and “numerous Good Samaritan vessels responded to assist,” the Coast Guard said.
“Several patients are being transported to local hospitals for medical evaluation and treatment,” it added.
An image released by the Coast Guard showed the seaplane on fire in the water at the crash site.
Kenmore Air said that all scheduled flights for Friday have been canceled as its team “focuses on supporting the passengers, pilot, families, employees, and emergency response efforts following today’s accident near Sucia Island.”
The airline confirmed there were 10 passengers and one pilot on board.
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office said everyone on the plane was rescued from the water and injuries ranged from “head injuries to broken bones and lacerations.”
One patient is in critical condition, according to the sheriff’s office.
Six passengers were transported to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham, and the four others were transported to a medical center in Friday Harbor. The pilot was transferred to a hospital in Mount Vernon “for evaluation and treatment,” the airline said.
“Kenmore Air is fully cooperating with the investigating authorities, and we will continue providing verified information as it becomes available,” CEO David Gudgel said in a statement.
A St. Joseph Medical Center spokesperson confirmed it was prepared to receive patients following the incident.
“Our thoughts are with everyone involved, as well as their families, friends and the first responders assisting in the response efforts,” the spokesperson said.
Founded in 1946, Kenmore Air flies more than 90,000 passengers annually on scheduled, scenic and charter flights, according to its website.
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