Sucia Seaplane Rescue
Kenmore Air Seaplane Crashes Near Sucia Island; All 10 Aboard Rescued After Water Landing
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Key Points
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The aircraft involved was a de Havilland DHC-3 Otter operated by Kenmore Air (Flight 140).
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The crash occurred in Shallow Bay near Sucia Island, with Coast Guard reporting a distress call around 5:25 p.m. and the impact of the water landing around 5:15 p.m.
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There was a discrepancy in the reported number of people aboard (Kenmore Air said 10 aboard; Orcas Island Fire & Rescue initially indicated up to 11), a variance that affects how responders search and account for passengers.
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Two injured passengers were transported to medical facilities (two to Bellingham and two to Orcas Island) while responders continued on-scene care; Kenmore Air activated its emergency procedures and said all aboard had been accounted for.
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Canadian emergency responders also joined U.S. Coast Guard and local agencies on scene as part of the multi-agency response.
A Kenmore Air seaplane crashed into Shallow Bay near Sucia Island in Washington state Thursday evening, catching fire after hitting the water and triggering a major rescue operation. All 11 people aboard were accounted for, according to KING5 and KIRO7, with at least two passengers transported to medical facilities.
The de Havilland DHC-3 Otter, operating as Kenmore Air Flight 140, departed Seattle's Lake Union around 4:30 p.m. and was headed to Roche Harbor on San Juan Island. The U.S. Coast Guard received a distress call at approximately 5:25 p.m., with the water impact believed to have occurred around 5:15 p.m.
Plane Hits Water and Catches Fire Near Sucia Island
The aircraft came down in Shallow Bay, a sheltered cove off Sucia Island in San Juan County. After the water landing, the plane caught fire. WABX reported that Kenmore Air — the largest seaplane airline in the United States — described the event as an emergency landing. Responders reached the scene quickly and began accounting for everyone aboard.
Two injured passengers were flown to medical facilities in Bellingham. Two more were taken to Orcas Island for care. Kenmore Air said it activated its emergency procedures immediately after the crash. The airline confirmed all people aboard had been accounted for, though it listed 10 passengers while Orcas Island Fire & Rescue initially reported up to 11.
Coast Guard Leads Multi-Agency Rescue Across the Islands
The U.S. Coast Guard led the response on scene. Fire crews from Orcas Island, San Juan Island, and Lopez Island all responded. The San Juan County Sheriff's Office also assisted. Canadian emergency responders crossed the border to join the operation, making it an international effort in the waters near the U.S.-Canada boundary.
Responders worked to pull passengers from the water and provide medical care on scene. The scale of the response — spanning multiple islands and two countries — reflected the remote location of Sucia Island, which sits in the northern San Juan archipelago with limited road access and no bridge connections.
Passenger Count Discrepancy Complicated the Search
A key question early in the rescue was exactly how many people were aboard. Kenmore Air said 10 people were on the flight. Orcas Island Fire & Rescue initially said as many as 11. WIKY reported that all 11 people on board were ultimately accounted for. The gap in numbers matters because rescuers use the count to confirm no one is left in the water.
Officials have not yet confirmed the exact passenger count or released the identities of those involved. The precise aircraft type is also still being verified by authorities, though multiple outlets identified it as a de Havilland DHC-3 Otter, a rugged propeller plane long used for seaplane routes in the Pacific Northwest.
Kenmore Air Cooperates as Crash Cause Remains Unknown
Kenmore Air said it is fully cooperating with investigators. The cause of the crash has not been determined. Federal investigators will likely lead a formal inquiry into what brought the plane down. The National Transportation Safety Board typically handles seaplane crashes of this nature in U.S. waters.
Kenmore Air has operated seaplane routes across the Pacific Northwest for decades. The airline runs scheduled service between Seattle and destinations including the San Juan Islands, Victoria, and other waterfront communities. Thursday's crash on a routine route to Roche Harbor will almost certainly draw fresh scrutiny of seaplane safety standards, according to Ledger-Enquirer.
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