Plane crash lands into fireball on secluded island as passengers miraculously survive

A major rescue operation is underway near the US-Canada border after a Kenmore Air plane crash landed near Sucia Island in Washington state, with all 11 people on board accounted for following the emergency landing

Rachel Vickers-Price UK and World News Reporter and Simon Hamalienko Publishing Lead

07:32, 24 Jul 2026

[Sea Plane crash near Seattle, rescues being made.]

The plane crash-landed and burst into flames(Image: Dave Eastman/Facebook)

A plane has crash-landed on the coast of a secluded island, with emergency services rushing to the scene to assist 11 individuals onboard at the time.

A significant rescue operation was launched near the US-Canada border following the downing of a Kenmore Air plane approximately 87 nautical miles (around 100 miles) from Seattle in the US on Thursday (July 24). The aircraft descended near Sucia Island in Washington state's San Juan Islands just before 5:30pm local time.

Thick smoke was observed billowing from the area after the crash. It is believed there were substantial thunderstorms in the vicinity when the plane went down.

[Passengers seen disembarking from the craft before it exploded]

All the passengers managed to safely exit the plane before it exploded(Image: X)

The US Coast Guard and air medical transport provider Airlift North West have been spotted hovering over Shallow Bay, according to flight tracking data, reports the Express.

A spokesperson for Kenmore Air stated the aircraft departed Lake Union around 4.30 pm Thursday, heading to Roche Harbour on San Juan Island when it crash-landed.

The spokesperson further added that 11 people in total - 10 passengers and a pilot - were on board at the time of the emergency landing. All individuals are accounted for.

Four people were transported to hospitals with serious injuries, while the spokesperson did not have information regarding the remaining seven.

The San Juan County Sheriff's Office reported one person is in critical condition and that the victims' injuries range from "head injuries to broken bones and lacerations", according to ABC News.

A spokesperson for the US Coastguard stated: "The aircraft had a reported 11 people aboard, and all are accounted for. United States Coast Guard, Canadian and local responders launched multiple assets to assist with the rescue.

"Several patients are being transported to local hospitals for medical evaluation and treatment."

According to local broadcaster Komo News, the US Coast Guard is spearheading rescue operations at the location. Numerous emergency services have also attended, including Orcas Island Fire & Rescue, San Juan Island Fire & Rescue, Lopez Island Fire & Rescue, San Juan County Parks and the San Juan County Sheriff's Office.

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Recovery operations continue, and there has been no official confirmation regarding the aircraft type or what triggered the incident.

Nevertheless, FlightRadar data suggests the aircraft may have been a Kenmore Air DHC-3 Otter floatplane, registration N709KA.

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