First responders were able to save all 11 people on board a seaplane that crashed off the coast of Washington state Thursday with no fatalities, and one person in critical condition.
The plane crashed near Sucia Island, 84 miles northwest of Seattle, around 5:15 p.m. local time Thursday, seaplane operator Kenmore Air said in a release.
All 11 people on board were “accounted for,” the company said, with six passengers going to one hospital, four passengers going to another hospital and the pilot going to a third hospital.
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office said on social media that one person was left in critical condition by the crash, with injuries to the plane’s occupants including broken bones, head injuries and lacerations.
The plane departed from the company’s seaplane base on the shore of Seattle’s Lake Union and was headed for the seaplane base in Roche Harbor, Washington, 72 miles away to the northwest, at the time of the crash, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.
The pilot and passengers were rescued by first responders that included local agencies, agencies from nearby Canada, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard, along with good Samaritans.
The Coast Guard said the plane caught fire and got stuck against the rocks on Sucia Island following the incident. The FAA said it is investigating the incident. Neither Kenmore Air nor authorities have said what caused the plane to crash.
Kenmore Air canceled its flights for Friday to focus on responding to the crash. Kenmore Air CEO David Gudgel said in the company’s release that “we are grateful that everyone aboard has been accounted for, and our immediate focus is ensuring our passengers and pilot receive the care and support they need.”
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