All 11 Survive After Kenmore Air Seaplane Crashes Near Sucia Island

All 11 people aboard a Kenmore Air seaplane survived after the aircraft crashed and caught fire near Sucia Island in Washington's San Juan Islands. The de Havilland DHC-3 Otter, operating as Kenmore Air Flight 140, departed Seattle's Lake Union at approximately 4:30 p.m. and went down near Shallow Bay roughly 45 minutes later, according to company statements and U.S. Coast Guard reports.

Emergency responders — including the U.S. Coast Guard, Canadian authorities and civilian boaters — rescued the 10 passengers and one pilot from the water. Injuries reported included lacerations, broken bones and head trauma. While early accounts indicated one person was in critical condition, subsequent updates confirmed seven passengers had been discharged from the hospital, with three remaining in satisfactory condition.

Investigation Underway

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched investigations to determine the cause of the accident. Weather conditions at the time included rain showers and south winds gusting to 20 mph. Kenmore Air canceled all flights the following day and said the wreckage would be moved to a secure location for further analysis.