A DHC-3T amphibious aircraft operated by Kenmore Air, registration N709KA, crashed on July 23, 2026, on the shore of Sucia Island, in Shallow Bay, Washington State.
All eleven people onboard the aircraft, a pilot and 10 passengers, were rescued before the aircraft was engulfed by flames, although four of them suffered serious injuries requiring hospitalization. One of the occupants of the airplane is reportedly in a critical condition.
The aircraft was operating Kenmore Air’s flight 140, which is a regular service to the San Juan Islands.
Kenmore Air is one of the largest seaplane operators in the United States. From its base in Seattle, it serves on schedule a number of destinations throughout Washington State and Canada’s British Columbia, mostly in islands and other sparsely populated locations, as well as operating on-demand charter services.
Media reports indicate that the seaplane took off at 4:30 p.m. from Lake Union, a waterway next to downtown Seattle, Washinton. It was headed to Roche Harbor, on San Juan Island approximately 100 miles to the northwest and close to the site of the crash.
Dramatic footage filmed by bystanders on nearby boats has been posted online, showing the exact moment that the aircraft comes down and crashes after having repeatedly bouncing off the surface of the water.
The United States Coast Guard deployed several assets to the scene, including a MH-65D helicopter. An H-135 helicopter from emergency services operator Airlift Northwest could also been spotted at the site of the crash, assisting with the rescue operation.
Another DHC-3 seaplane, in this case operated by Northwest Seaplane, crashed in 2022 on Mutiny Bay, Washington, not far from Seattle. On that occasion, there were no survivors among the 10 occupants of the aircraft.