Multiple people have been rescued after a seaplane carrying 11 people made an emergency touchdown Thursday off the coast of Washington, prompting a multi-agency search and rescue operation.
All 11 people, a pilot and 10 passengers, aboard the Kenmore Air seaplane have been accounted for after the airplane made an emergency touchdown and caught hearth close to Sucia Island within the San Juan Islands, the US Coast Guard informed NCS.
Four people had been transported to hospitals with critical accidents, NCS affiliate KING reported citing a Kenmore Air spokesperson. One of the 4 injured passengers was transported in vital situation, San Juan County Sheriff Eric Peter mentioned, based on KING.
The victims’ accidents vary from “head injuries to broken bones and lacerations,” Peter mentioned.
What prompted the airplane to make an emergency touchdown is unknown.
A Kenmore Air spokesperson informed KING the floatplane took off at 4:30 p.m. from Lake Union in Seattle and was heading to Roche Harbor, about 100 miles northwest, when it went down round 45 minutes after take-off.
The US Coast Guard mentioned it acquired preliminary experiences round 5:25 p.m. native time and instantly launched search and rescue belongings, alongside the US Navy, Canadian Coast Guard and native companies.
NCS has reached out to Kenmore Air, the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, the US Navy, the Canadian Coast Guard and the FAA.
Two of the injured passengers have been taken to a hospital in Bellingham, whereas two others had been transported to a hospital in Seattle, the airline informed NCS affiliate KOMO. Seven extra passengers had been taken to a US Coast Guard base for additional analysis, KOMO mentioned.
“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,” Kenmore Air CEO David Gudgel mentioned in an announcement, based on KING.
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“Kenmore Air is fully cooperating with the investigating authorities, and we will continue providing verified information as it becomes available,” Gudgel mentioned.