Bystanders praised for compassionate response after seaplane crash near B.C.-Washington border
All 11 people aboard were taken to hospital, with one person in critical condition, local officials say
A swift and caring response from nearby boaters helped bring all 11 people aboard a seaplane to safety after it made an emergency landing near Sucia Island on Thursday evening.
The Kenmore Air aircraft crashed along the island’s shoreline, close to the B.C.-Washington border, and later caught fire. Emergency services from Canada and the United States were dispatched, but recreational boaters had already begun rescuing the pilot and 10 passengers before first responders reached the scene.
Nathan Butler, a member of the San Juan Island EMS command staff, said the bystanders worked together to comfort and care for those aboard the plane.
“Before we ever got to the scene, they got all of the patients on their boats, they tied [three boats] together … and they had blankets and used first aid to bandage people's head injuries,” he said.
Among those who stepped forward were an off-duty medic and a trauma nurse. Butler praised the boaters for bringing skill, compassion and teamwork to a difficult situation.
“They honestly did an amazing job and made that situation much better than it would have been…. They truly were heroes last night.”
All 11 people were transported by boat or airlift to nearby hospitals. According to the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, their injuries included broken bones, cuts and head injuries. One person was reported to be in critical condition, while no deaths were reported.
Kenmore Air said the de Havilland DHC-3 Otter had departed from Lake Union in Seattle before it was “involved in an accident” at approximately 5:15 p.m. PT on Thursday.
“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,” CEO David Gudgel said in a statement.
The airline cancelled its scheduled Friday flights and said it would not speculate about what caused the accident. The U.S. Coast Guard said investigators are examining both the emergency landing and the subsequent fire.
The response brought together numerous agencies from both sides of the border. The Canadian Coast Guard ship Siyay and B.C. Air Ambulance joined the U.S. Coast Guard and several Washington state agencies in responding to the incident.
B.C. Emergency Health Services said three air ambulances and a critical-care crew were “staged but later stood down as they were not required in the response.”
Mike Hairston, undersheriff with the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, said American and Canadian emergency teams were sent to the remote island within about 30 minutes of the initial crash reports.
He expressed relief that everyone aboard survived, noting the challenges involved in reaching the location.
“I mean, anytime we have a plane go down, there's always that chance — plus this happened on a remote island that is only accessible by a helicopter or a boat.”
On Friday morning, Hairston and Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel travelled to the site to document the scene and photograph the aircraft on the shoreline during low tide. The investigation remains underway.
