The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating after a seaplane made a dramatic emergency landing in Washington state on Thursday.
The de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter plane was being operated by Kenmore Air—which is the largest U.S. seaplane airline—and was carrying 10 passengers and a pilot when it crashed down near Sucia Island in the San Juan Islands before catching fire shortly after 5 p.m. local time.
The harrowing incident was captured on video by local boaters.
The U.S. Coast Guard was among the first responders on the scene. Victims were also aided by numerous Good Samaritan vessels, the Coast Guard said.
All 11 people have been accounted for, with some sustaining serious injuries requiring hospitalization. "Several patients are being transported to local hospitals for medical evaluation and treatment," the Coast Guard stated.
Kenmore Air has canceled its Friday flight schedule as it "focuses on supporting the passengers, pilot, families, employees, and emergency response efforts following today's accident near Sucia Island."
CEO David Gudgel confirmed that "Kenmore Air is fully cooperating with the investigating authorities, and we will continue providing verified information as it becomes available," according to a statement.
The airline's website states that it flies more than 90,000 passengers annually.
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