Kenmore Air flights to resume after seaplane crash near Sucia Island

Kenmore Air will resume flight operations Saturday, the airline confirmed. All flights were canceled Friday after the previous evening’s seaplane crash near Sucia Island in Washington’s San Juan Islands.

Dramatic video captured by a nearby boater shows the aircraft’s final moments before impact.

The de Havilland DHC-3 Otter seaplane crashed in Shallow Bay at about 5:15 p.m. Thursday after departing from Lake Union in Seattle on a scheduled flight to Roche Harbor, according to Kenmore Air.

All 11 people aboard survived the crash, the airline confirmed.

Two injured passengers were transported to a hospital in Bellingham, while two others were taken to a hospital on Orcas Island. One person was reported in critical condition.

Three people are still hospitalized, Kenmore Air spokesperson Aaron Blank told KIRO Newsradio Friday. The pilot, who has been with the airline for four years, was released from the hospital.

Dramatic video captures the seaplane’s final moments before impact

Video recorded by a boater shows the aircraft flying low before banking sharply to the left. Moments later, the plane strikes rocks near the shoreline as the witness reacts in disbelief.

“Holy cow, this is so cool. I can’t believe he’s doing this,” the boater is heard saying on the video seconds before the crash. “Oh God, I hope he’s OK … I better go out there.”

Authorities said the pilot was attempting an emergency landing, but investigators have not said what prompted the emergency.

Several nearby boaters rushed to the scene and helped rescue passengers from the water before emergency crews arrived.

The Coast Guard posted a video of the rescue, which can be seen here.

Officials have yet to determine what prompted the emergency

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it is investigating the crash.

“The airplane impacted the water and subsequently caught on fire,” a spokesperson told KIRO Newsradio. “The airplane is expected to be recovered today and moved to a secure facility for further examination.”

The spokesperson added that NTSB investigators will request radar data, weather information, maintenance records and the pilot’s medical records.

“NTSB investigators will look at the human, machine and environment as the outline of the investigation,” the spokesperson stated.

Aviation expert John Nance told KIRO 7 that NTSB will be looking into all aspects of the plane and its flight path.

“They’ll take a long period of time, whatever is necessary, to be able to chase down other clues, other leads, eyewitnesses and be able to come up with a probable cause,” Nance said. “What we don’t know yet, and what we will know fairly soon, is was this an attempted emergency landing, and if so, what went wrong?”

Online speculation suggested lightning may have played a role in the crash, but Kenmore Air declined to comment on the possibility.

“Out of respect for those involved, we will not speculate regarding the cause of the accident,” the airline said in a statement.

The airline added that its highest priority is “the care and support of our passengers, our pilot, and their families.”

Emergency response procedures have been activated, and the airline is working with the U.S. Coast Guard and local responders.

Experts say weather likely played a role, but questions remain

Kenmore Air CEO David Gudgel thanked first responders and the boaters who assisted in the rescue.

“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,” Gudgel said. “We extend our sincere thanks to the United States Coast Guard, local emergency responders, and everyone assisting in the response.”

“We all want the answers immediately, but we’re never going to get them. Not all of them, at least,” Nance explained. “Was weather a factor? Very likely, it was a factor, but exactly in what degree or to what degree, we don’t know yet.”

Contributing: Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest; Frank Lenzi, KIRO Newsradio

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