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The U.S. Coast Guard said a Kenmore Airways seaplane carrying 11 people made an emergency landing and caught fire on July 23 near Sucia Island in Washington state’s San Juan Islands, prompting a massive rescue effort by emergency crews.
The U.S. Coast Guard in Puget Sound received a report of a Kenmore Airways seaplane making an emergency landing in Sharrow Bay and catching fire at approximately 5:25 p.m. local time, the agency said in a statement to X. According to the Coast Guard, there were 11 people on board the plane, and their safety has been confirmed.
The Coast Guard said U.S., Canadian and local response forces “deployed multiple units to assist in the rescue.” Several people have been transported to local hospitals for medical evaluation and treatment.
Kenmore Airways identified the aircraft as a de Havilland DHC-3 Otter in a news release. According to the airline, the flight departed from Seattle’s Lake Union and headed for Roche Port on San Juan Island when it crashed near Sucia Island at 5:15 p.m. local time.
Kenmore Airlines said there were 10 passengers and one pilot on board, and “the safety of all passengers has been confirmed.” Two injured passengers were taken to a medical facility in Bellingham, Washington, and the other two were taken to Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands for treatment, the airline said.
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office said multiple people suffered injuries “ranging from head trauma to broken bones and lacerations,” with at least one person in critical condition.
The plane caught fire after making an emergency landing and is now “resting against rocks on Sucia Island,” the Coast Guard told USA TODAY. Coast Guard environmental response personnel are working with partner agencies to assess potential environmental impacts.
Kenmore Air said it has activated emergency response procedures and is working closely with the Coast Guard and local emergency response forces. Responding agencies include the Coast Guard, San Juan Island Fire and Rescue, Orcas Island Fire and Rescue, Lopez Island Fire and Rescue, San Juan County Parks, and the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office.
“Tonight, one of our aircraft was involved in an accident near Sucia Island. We are grateful that all passengers are safe and our immediate focus is to ensure that our passengers and pilots receive the care and support they need,” Kenmore CEO David Guggell said, adding that the airline is “cooperating fully” with investigators.
The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed to USA TODAY that it is investigating the incident. The US Federal Aviation Administration is also investigating.
The cause of the accident was not immediately known.
Founded in 1946, Kenmore Air is the largest seaplane airline in the United States, serving more than 90,000 passengers annually on scheduled, scenic and charter flights, according to the company’s news release and website.
Sucia Island is part of the San Juan Islands and is a popular boating and tourist destination in northwestern Washington near the U.S.-Canada border. The San Juan Islands are an archipelago located between Washington state and Vancouver Island, Canada.
