Kenmore Seaplane Crash Near Sucia Island Under Investigation

A Kenmore Air de Havilland DHC-3 Otter carrying 11 people crashed near Sucia Island in the San Juan Islands while making an emergency landing on Shallow Bay; all aboard survived. The aircraft, which departed Lake Union in Seattle for Roche Harbor, ignited upon impact against the rocky shoreline, prompting a coordinated rescue by boaters, the Coast Guard, and local responders. Injuries ranged from head trauma to broken bones and cuts, with several passengers discharged from hospitals and others treated at facilities in Bellingham, Friday Harbor, Skagit Valley, and Orcas Island. Kenmore Air canceled all Friday flights as investigators from the FAA and NTSB review the incident, with the carrier cooperating and offering support to affected travelers and families. Dramatic video and witness accounts captured the final moments before impact and the immediate rescue response. Investigators have not yet determined the causes and are analyzing flight path and other evidence as part of the ongoing inquiry.