Dramatic Video Shows Kenmore Air Floatplane Bursting Into Flames

Dramatic video captures the moment a Kenmore Air de Havilland DHC-3 Otter floatplane made an emergency water landing in Shallow Bay off Sucia Island, Washington, on July 23 before bursting into flames. The aircraft, carrying 10 passengers and one pilot, had departed Seattle’s Lake Union bound for Roche Harbor when the pilot was forced to put the plane down. Flames quickly engulfed the aircraft after impact, creating a harrowing scene for those on board and nearby witnesses. Despite the fire and the force of the landing, all 11 people survived.

Boaters who saw the crash immediately raced to the burning aircraft to help pull survivors from the water and wreckage. Coast Guard and local emergency crews arrived shortly afterward and took over the rescue and medical response. Four passengers were transported to hospitals with injuries that included broken bones, lacerations, and head trauma, and one person remained in critical condition. The quick actions of the good Samaritans on the water played a decisive role in preventing a far worse outcome.

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are examining the cause of the emergency landing. Weather conditions at the time, including thunderstorms and reduced visibility, are among the factors under review. The survival of everyone on board stands as a remarkable outcome given the intensity of the fire and the remote location of the crash. Authorities continue to focus on both the recovery of the injured and determining exactly what forced the plane down.