Every person aboard a seaplane that crashed and burst into flames in the Puget Sound survived the terrifying ordeal last Thursday, despite the aircraft sinking in frigid waters before rescue teams could reach the scene.
The de Havilland DHC-3 Otter, operated by Kenmore Air, was departing Seattle with 10 passengers and one pilot when the aircraft went down at 5:15 p.m. local time. The plane not only crashed upon impact with the water but also ignited, creating a dual emergency that threatened all 11 lives aboard.
By the time US Coast Guard first responders arrived at the crash site, the seaplane had already disappeared beneath the surface. Despite these dire circumstances, rescue crews pulled all 11 individuals from the water alive, though several sustained serious injuries including broken bones, lacerations, and head trauma. One passenger remained in critical condition.
Coast Guard Lt. Commander Marshall Burtt credited the pilot's skill for the survival outcome. "The pilot probably did a really good job to set it down gently enough to give everybody a chance," Burtt told CBS Evening News, according to Good News Network. "A lot of things went right to get everybody out of the plane."
Three air ambulances responded to transport the injured from the scene, rushing them to medical facilities for treatment.
Flight tracking data reveals the seaplane executed a 180 degree turn back toward Sucia Island in the Puget Sound after initially passing the location, suggesting the pilot may have been attempting an emergency landing. Witnesses on the ground reported observing the aircraft wobbling in the air close to the water's surface moments before impact. The fire erupted after the plane struck the water.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Recovery operations retrieved the sunken aircraft in the days following the incident to allow investigators to conduct a thorough examination of the wreckage.
Kenmore Air CEO David Gudgel addressed the incident in a statement, declining to offer theories about what led to the crash. "Out of respect for those involved, we will not speculate regarding the cause of the accident," Gudgel said, according to Good News Network. He confirmed the carrier is "fully cooperating with the investigating authorities, and we will continue providing verified information as it becomes available."
The survival of all 11 individuals represents an extraordinary outcome given the multiple life-threatening factors at play: the initial crash impact, the subsequent fire, and immersion in the cold waters of the Puget Sound. The combination of the pilot's emergency response, the passengers' ability to evacuate a burning and sinking aircraft, and the swift arrival of rescue personnel all contributed to preventing what could have been a fatal disaster.
