SUCIA ISLAND, Wash. — All 11 people on board a Kenmore Air floatplane that crashed in the San Juan Islands on Thursday evening have been accounted for.
The plane crashed around 5:15 p.m. off Sucia Island.
Kenmore Air told KIRO 7 that the plane left Lake Union and was headed to Roche Harbor with 11 people on board (10 passengers, 1 pilot).
All 11 people on board were rescued and taken to nearby medical facilities, officials confirmed to KIRO 7.
According to the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, one person has critical injuries. Other injuries range from broken bones to head injuries and lacerations.
Early reports indicated that two people were taken to a hospital in Bellingham, while two others were taken to a facility on Orcas Island. An update from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) released around midnight stated, “Several injured passengers were transported to hospitals in Friday Harbor, Skagit County and Bellingham for medical treatment.”
According to a statement from Kenmore Air, six passengers were transported to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham, four passengers were transported to PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center in Friday Harbor, and the pilot was transferred to Skagit Valley Hospital for evaluation and treatment.
Video shows the plane making a shaky water landing before crashing and catching fire. The sheriff’s office told KIRO 7 that no one had burn injuries.
According to the USCG, the aircraft caught fire following an emergency landing and is currently against the rocks on Sucia Island, as of Friday morning.
“Coast Guard environmental response personnel have been notified and are coordinating with partner agencies to assess potential environmental impacts,” wrote the agency.
Along with the U.S. Coast Guard, fire crews from Orcas Island, San Juan Island and Lopez Island, along with the county parks and sheriff’s office in San Juan, responded.
Here’s the full list of responding agencies, per the USCG:
- U.S. Coast Guard Station Bellingham
- U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles
- U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Osprey
- U.S. Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound
- U.S. Naval Air Station Whidbey Island
- Canadian Coast Guard Ship Siyay
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
- San Juan County Sheriff’s Office
- San Juan County Office of Emergency Management
- Orcas Island Fire and Rescue
- Airlift Northwest
- British Columbia Air Ambulance
It’s unclear what caused the apparent poor landing and subsequent crash. KIRO 7 was tracking lightning in the area before the crash, and we are working to learn if weather was a factor.
The USCG reports that the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration have been notified, and the cause of the emergency landing and subsequent fire are under investigation.
Kenmore Air
In a statement released on Thursday evening, Kenmore Air CEO David Gudgel said:
“This evening one of our aircraft was involved in an accident near Sucia Island. 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. We extend our sincere thanks to the United States Coast Guard, local emergency responders, and everyone assisting in the response. Kenmore Air is fully cooperating with the investigating authorities, and we will continue providing verified information as it becomes available.”
Kenmore Air released a second statement later that night, confirming that the airline was cancelling all scheduled flights for Friday, July 24.
“We recognize this disruption may affect our customers’ travel plans, and we sincerely appreciate their patience and understanding during this difficult time. Our thoughts remain with everyone affected, and we are grateful to the United States Coast Guard, local emergency responders, and our community partners for their swift response and continued support. We will continue to provide updates as additional information becomes available.”
Affected passengers are being contacted directly regarding rebooking or refund options. Guests can contact the Kenmore Air reservations team at 888-435-9524 for assistance.
Families of those affected are also urged to contact the direct support line established by Kenmore Air at (866) 435-9524.
KIRO 7 will have multiple reporting crews in the area Friday and will update this article with any new details as they become available.