Summary (tl;dr)

A Kenmore Air seaplane carrying 11 people crashed and caught fire near Sucia Island in Washington's San Juan Islands on Thursday evening, July 23, 2026; all occupants were rescued, though several sustained injuries.

Essential Background

Kenmore Air is an American airline headquartered in Kenmore, Washington, that provides scheduled and charter seaplane and landplane services across western Washington and southwestern British Columbia. The company, which has been in operation since 1946, is a prominent air carrier in the Pacific Northwest.

The Full Story

On Thursday evening, July 23, 2026, a Kenmore Air de Havilland DHC-3 Otter floatplane, identified as Flight 140, departed from Seattle's Lake Union en route to Roche Harbor when it was involved in an accident. The aircraft made an emergency landing and subsequently caught fire in Shallow Bay near Sucia Island in Washington's San Juan Islands. All 11 individuals on board, consisting of 10 passengers and one pilot, were rescued. Several occupants sustained injuries, including head trauma, broken bones, and lacerations, with at least one person in critical condition. Following the incident, Kenmore Air announced the cancellation of all scheduled flights for Friday, July 24, 2026, to focus on supporting the affected individuals and emergency response efforts. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have initiated investigations into the crash.

Why It Matters

These keywords are trending due to the unexpected nature of the seaplane crash and the public's concern for the safety of those involved. The incident, occurring in a popular travel region, raises questions about air travel safety and the operational procedures for floatplanes. The cancellation of all Kenmore Air flights for the day underscores the severity of the event and its immediate impact on the company's services and passengers.

Geographic Location

• Shallow Bay, Sucia Island, San Juan County, Washington, United States (seaplane crash and fire)
• Lake Union, Seattle, King County, Washington, United States (departure location of the flight)
• PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center, Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington, United States (injured passengers transported for treatment)
• PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center, Friday Harbor, San Juan County, Washington, United States (injured passengers transported for treatment)
• Skagit Valley Hospital, Mount Vernon, Skagit County, Washington, United States (pilot transported for treatment)
• Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, King County, Washington, United States (injured passengers transferred for treatment)