A Kenmore Air seaplane carrying 10 passengers and one pilot crashed Thursday evening while traveling from Seattle’s Lake Union to Roche Harbor in the San Juan Islands. The aircraft went down near Shallow Bay on Sucia Island at approximately 5:15 p.m., prompting a large-scale emergency response involving the U.S. Coast Guard, local first responders, and nearby boaters. Despite the dramatic crash and the aircraft catching fire after impact, everyone on board survived. Authorities confirmed that all 11 occupants were rescued from the water, though several sustained injuries ranging from cuts and broken bones to head trauma. At least one passenger was reported in critical condition following the rescue.
Emergency crews responded within minutes after reports of the crash. Nearby boaters were among the first to reach the scene, helping survivors escape the aircraft before flames engulfed much of the wreckage. The U.S. Coast Guard, San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, fire departments, and medical teams coordinated the rescue effort, transporting injured passengers to hospitals in Bellingham and Orcas Island for treatment. Witness video captured the aircraft flying unusually low before striking rocks near the shoreline. The footage has since circulated widely online and is expected to become part of the official investigation.
The aircraft involved was a de Havilland DHC-3 Otter, a floatplane commonly used throughout the Pacific Northwest. Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have launched an investigation to determine what caused the accident. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, weather conditions, maintenance records, and witness accounts before releasing preliminary findings. While thunderstorms were reported in parts of the region around the time of the crash, authorities have not identified a cause, and it remains too early to determine whether weather played any role.
Seaplanes have been part of Seattle’s identity for more than a century, providing scheduled passenger service, sightseeing flights, and connections between the city and destinations throughout the San Juan Islands and British Columbia. Kenmore Air is one of North America’s largest seaplane operators, transporting tens of thousands of passengers each year.
Although accidents involving commercial seaplanes are uncommon, Thursday’s incident serves as a reminder of the challenges of flying in the Pacific Northwest. The successful rescue of every person on board has been widely credited to the swift actions of the pilot, nearby boaters, and emergency responders, preventing what could have become a far more devastating tragedy.
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