Seaplane crashes near remote island off Washington with all 11 people rescued
Emergency services have raced to the scene of a plane crash off the coast of a remote island, with all 11 persons on board managing to escape from the aircraft an explosion took place.
Shock footage of the incident captured a seaplane approaching the water near the shore of Sucia Island, about 80 nautical miles from Seattle in Washington state. Further footage captured columns of smoke filling the sky on Thursday, July 23.
It is understood that the plane has crashed not far from the border of the Washington state and the Canadian province of British Columbia.
The US Coastguard and air medical transport service Airlift North West have been spotted "hovering the area of Shallow Bay", as per radar, and fire and rescue services are at the scene.
The Kenmore Air plane has "crashed on the shore of Sucia Island in the San Juan Islands", as per online data. Online radar information also indicates there were also thunderstorms in the vicinity at the time of the crash, which occurred at about 5.22pm local time.
A spokesperson for Kenmore Air said the aircraft departed Lake Union at about 4.30 pm Thursday, en route to Roche Harbour on San Juan Island when it crash landed.
The spokesperson added that 11 people in total — 10 passengers and a pilot — were on board at the time of the emergency landing. All people are accounted for. Four people were transported to hospitals with serious injuries, while the spokesperson did not have information regarding the remaining seven.
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office said one person is in critical condition and that the victims’ injuries range from "head injuries to broken bones and lacerations", as per ABC News.
A spokesperson for the US Coastguard said: "The aircraft had a reported 11 people aboard, and all are accounted for. United States Coast Guard, Canadian and local responders launched multiple assets to assist with the rescue."
"Several patients are being transported to local hospitals for medical evaluation and treatment."
The US Coast Guard is on scene conducting rescue operations, local broadcaster Komo News reports. Multiple agencies have responded to the downed plane, including: Orcas Island Fire & Rescue, San Juan Island Fire & Rescue, Lopez Island Fire & Rescue, San Juan County Parks, and the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office.
There is no official confirmation yet regarding the type of aircraft, the condition of those involved, or what may have caused the crash.
However, Flight Radar information so far indicates that the downed plane was Kenmore Air DHC-3 Otter floatplane N709KA, pictured above in a stock photo taken on Lake Union.
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