NTSB investigates Kenmore Air seaplane crash near Sucia Island after 11 survive

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a Kenmore Air seaplane crash near Sucia Island after a floatplane carrying 10 passengers and one pilot went down Thursday evening and caught fire, according to the agency.

Kenmore Air said all 11 people on board survived. Injured passengers were taken to hospitals after rescue efforts involving multiple agencies. The airline canceled all scheduled flights Friday and said it would focus on supporting passengers, the pilot, families, employees, and emergency responders. It plans to resume flights Saturday after an internal review, according to KATU.

Hospital treatment was spread across several facilities. KATU reported that six survivors went to PeaceHealth St. Joseph in Bellingham, while four others were taken to PeaceHealth Peace Hospital on San Juan Island. Two patients were transferred to Harborview Medical Center, and Harborview officials said both, a man and a woman in their 20s, were in satisfactory condition. The report also said four passengers were treated and discharged, while three patients from San Juan Island had been discharged and one had been transferred to Harborview.

The aircraft is expected to be recovered Friday and moved to a secure facility for further examination, investigators said. The Washington Department of Ecology said crews and Lummi Nation spill responders were at the crash site Friday removing debris from the water and assessing possible environmental impacts.

The NTSB said it will collect radar data, weather information, maintenance records, and the pilot's medical records as part of the investigation. Investigators will also examine human, mechanical, and environmental factors. The agency said it will not hold a media briefing and will later issue a preliminary report with factual information gathered in the early phase of the inquiry.

After a crash like this, medical records, travel records, and other documents can matter in any injury claim or insurance review. Families also often need to track where each passenger was treated and whether records are complete before speaking with insurers or investigators.

Sources

1. Kenmore Air to resume flights Saturday after internal review (opens in a new tab) - KATU, 2026-07-24