A sightseeing flight from Seattle to the San Juan Islands ended in an emergency water landing Thursday, with all 11 people on board pulled from the water but several badly hurt. CNN reports that the Kenmore Air seaplane went down and caught fire near Sucia Island roughly 45 minutes after departing Seattle's Lake Union for Roche Harbor, according to the Coast Guard and local officials. Four passengers were hospitalized with serious injuries, including one in critical condition.
The San Juan County Sheriff's Office said the victims' injuries range from "head injuries to broken bones and lacerations," KING5 reports. The Coast Guard said it received distress reports around 5:25pm and mounted a joint rescue effort with the US Navy, Canadian Coast Guard, and local agencies. "The aircraft caught fire following the emergency landing and is currently against the rocks on Sucia Island," the Coast Guard said in a statement. "Coast Guard environmental response personnel have been notified and are coordinating with partner agencies to assess potential environmental impacts."
What forced the emergency landing is not yet known. Kenmore Air CEO David Gudgel said everyone aboard has been accounted for and that the company is fully cooperating with investigators. "Our immediate focus is ensuring our passengers and pilot receive the care and support they need," Gudgel said. Kenmore, the largest seaplane airline in the US, identified the aircraft as de Havilland DHC-3 Otter, USA Today reports.
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