Kenmore Air Seaplane Destroyed by Fire After Emergency Landing Near Sucia Island

Kenmore Air Seaplane Destroyed by Fire After Emergency Landing Near Sucia Island

July 25, 2026 | Aviator News Network

Eleven people survived a dramatic emergency water landing near Sucia Island, Washington, on Thursday, July 23, 2026, though the aircraft was completely destroyed by fire. The aircraft — a de Havilland Canada DHC-3T Vazar Turbine Otter registered as N709KA and operated by Kenmore Air — was performing flight KEN140 from Seattle's Lake Union to Roche Harbor Airport when it crashed in Shallow Bay around 5:15 p.m. PDT, according to reports from Reuters and the Aviation Safety Network.

Witnesses described the aircraft repeatedly bouncing on the water before striking the rocky shoreline, where it was quickly engulfed in flames. A joint rescue effort involving the U.S. Coast Guard — which deployed an MH-65D helicopter — along with Canadian authorities, local emergency services, and civilian vessels, successfully rescued the pilot and 10 passengers. The San Juan County Sheriff's Office reported that all 11 occupants suffered injuries, including fractures and head trauma. One person remains in critical condition, while others have since been discharged from the hospital.

Investigation Underway

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. Kenmore Air, the largest seaplane airline in the U.S., temporarily canceled several Friday flights to facilitate the arrival of NTSB investigators at the crash site, as reported by KOMO News. No cause for the emergency landing has been established at this time.

Safety Context

While the cause of the Sucia Island accident remains unknown, the DHC-3T variant has been the subject of previous safety scrutiny. In 2022, a similar aircraft crashed near Whidbey Island, prompting the NTSB to issue urgent safety recommendations regarding inspection of the horizontal stabilizer trim actuator lock ring. Officials have not indicated any link between that prior incident and the July 23 accident.

---

ANN will continue to update this story as new information becomes available. Sources: Aviation Safety Network, Reuters, KOMO News, San Juan County Sheriff's Office.