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A plane has crashed landed on the coast of a remote island, with emergency crews rushing to the scene to treat 11 people onboard at the time.
A major rescue operation is now underway near the US-Canada border after a Kenmore Air plane went down about 87 nautical miles from Seattle in the US on Thursday (July 24). The aircraft came down near Sucia Island in Washington state’s San Juan Islands just before 5.30pm local time. Thick smoke was seen rising from the area following the crash.
It is understood there were significant thunderstorms in the area when the plane went down.
The US Coast Guard and air medical transport provider Airlift North West have been observed hovering over Shallow Bay, as per to flight tracking data.
A spokesperson for Kenmore Air said the aircraft departed Lake Union at about 4.30 pm Thursday, en route to Roche Harbour on San Juan Island when it crash landed.
The spokesperson added that 11 people in total — 10 passengers and a pilot — were on board at the time of the emergency landing. All people are accounted for. Four people were transported to hospitals with serious injuries, while the spokesperson did not have information regarding the remaining seven.
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office said one person is in critical condition and that the victims’ injuries range from “head injuries to broken bones and lacerations”, as per ABC News.
A spokesperson for the US Coastguard said: “The aircraft had a reported 11 people aboard, and all are accounted for. United States Coast Guard, Canadian and local responders launched multiple assets to assist with the rescue.”
“Several patients are being transported to local hospitals for medical evaluation and treatment.”
According to local broadcaster Komo News, the US Coast Guard is leading rescue efforts at the scene. Several emergency agencies have also responded, including Orcas Island Fire & Rescue, San Juan Island Fire & Rescue, Lopez Island Fire & Rescue, San Juan County Parks and the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office.
Rescue efforts remain ongoing, and there has been no official confirmation of the type of aircraft involved or what caused the crash.
However, FlightRadar data indicates the aircraft may have been a Kenmore Air DHC-3 Otter floatplane, registration N709KA.
