A seaplane carrying 11 people crashed and caught fire on the rocky shore of a vacation island north of Seattle, but a swift rescue by boat and air got everyone safely to hospitals.The San Juan County Sheriff's Office initially reported one person was in critical condition after Thursday's crash, and that patients suffered head injuries, broken bones and cuts. At least five of the passengers had been discharged from hospitals as of Friday.The crash came less than three weeks after a seaplane carrying eight people made a rough landing in New York City's East River, causing minor injuries.RELATED STORY | 11 people rescued after a small plane crashes off the Florida coastVideos posted on social media of the crash in Washington state show the aircraft banking to one side as it flies low over the water near several boats and the coastline. The plane makes a hard landing, at first touching down on just one float, then it briefly skips into the air before hitting land.
The person recording the video gasps when a crunching sound is heard from the plane's impact just out of sight.First responders and witnesses race to the scenePeople rushed to help everyone get out of the downed aircraft. In the videos, passengers can be seen exiting the plane as smoke rises before bright orange flames engulf the fuselage, which came to rest partially submerged against a large rock."An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast was issued to mariners in the area, and numerous good Samaritan vessels responded to assist," the U.S. Coast Guard said in a statement Friday.The plane was carrying a pilot and 10 passengers.
Thursday in the San Juan Islands.All of the passengers were initially taken to two hospitals. Five were discharged, with two more expected to be discharged Friday, spokesperson Amy Drury said. One was in satisfactory condition.Two passengers were taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Drury said.
They were in satisfactory condition on Friday, the hospital said. The pilot was taken to Skagit Valley Hospital. Messages were left seeking their condition.The same type of seaplane crashed near Seattle in 2022The plane's operator said it was a DHC-3 Otter made by de Havilland Aircraft of Canada.
That's the same model of floatplane as one that plunged into the waters of Puget Sound northwest of Seattle, killing 10 people, in 2022.Federal regulators … SEATTLE (AP) — A seaplane carrying 11 people crashed near an island tourist destination north of Seattle and caught on fire, prompting a quick, successful rescue by multiple agencies via boat and air to get injured passengers and the pilot to hospitals. Videos posted on social media show the aircraft banking to one side as it flies low over the water near some boats close to shore.
The plane makes a hard landing, first on one float, then briefly skips into the air before hitting the rocky coast. The person taking the video gasps as a crunching sound is heard when the plane crashes just out of sight. People can be seen getting out of the plane as smoke rises before bright orange flames engulf the fuselage, which came to rest partially submerged against a large rock.
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