Seaplane crash near Seattle leaves all 11 aboard alive
A Kenmore Air seaplane crashed and caught fire near Sucia Island, with officials reporting injuries but no fatalities.
By Frankie Delgado · News Reporter
2 min read
A seaplane crash Seattle-area rescue turned urgent Thursday evening after a Kenmore Air aircraft carrying 11 people went down in Shallow Bay near Sucia Island and later caught fire, authorities said.
Kenmore Air said one of its planes was involved in an accident at about 5:15 p.m. local time. The company said the aircraft was carrying 10 passengers and one pilot, and that everyone aboard had been accounted for.
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office said all 11 people were rescued from the water. The office reported no fatalities, but said multiple patients were hurt, with injuries including head injuries, broken bones and lacerations.
One patient was in critical condition, according to the sheriff’s office.
What happened in the seaplane crash near Seattle?
The crash happened in Shallow Bay, near Sucia Island, in the Puget Sound area north of Seattle, according to Kenmore Air and the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office. After the plane went down, it caught fire, and responders pulled everyone on board from the water, the sheriff’s office said.
Video recorded by onlooker Monica Scott showed the aircraft flying very low and wobbling before it crashed and burst into flames. A photo credited to Scott showed the Kenmore Air plane burning after the crash.
The sheriff’s office said three airlift ambulances responded to the scene. Kenmore Air said the response included the U.S. Coast Guard and local emergency personnel.
Kenmore Air said in its statement that everyone on the plane had been accounted for. The sheriff’s office separately said there were no reports of fatalities at the time it released its update.
The aircraft was described by Kenmore Air as one of its planes. The company’s statement did not give further details on the aircraft type, the route, or what may have led to the accident.
Where is Shallow Bay?
Shallow Bay is near Sucia Island in the Puget Sound area north of Seattle, according to the details released by Kenmore Air and the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office. The crash site put rescuers on the water as well as in the air, with airlift ambulances and marine emergency responders involved.
Authorities did not report any deaths, and Kenmore Air said all passengers and the pilot were accounted for. The sheriff’s office said injured patients had conditions ranging from cuts to broken bones and head injuries, with one person listed as critical.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS News.