Seaplane Catches Fire After Emergency Landing in Washington; All 11 Aboard Rescued

Washington DC. A seaplane has caught fire after an emergency landing in the coastal area of Washington state, USA. All 11 people on board the plane have been rescued safely.

According to the US Coast Guard, the Kenmore Air plane made an emergency landing in the North Beach Shallo Bay area near Suzie Island, part of the San Juan Islands group. The plane caught fire immediately after landing.

There was one pilot and 10 passengers on board the plane. After the accident, the US Coast Guard, US Navy, Canadian Coast Guard, and local authorities jointly conducted a search and rescue operation. 

Four of the rescued passengers sustained serious injuries and have been admitted to the hospital. According to local authorities, one person is in serious condition, while other injured individuals have suffered head injuries, broken bones, and deep wounds on their bodies.

The cause of the accident is not yet known. According to Kenmore Air, the floatplane departed from Lake Union in Seattle at 4:30 PM and was en route to Roche Harbor, about 100 miles away, when it crashed approximately 45 minutes after takeoff. 

Two of the injured were taken to a hospital in Bellingham and two others to a hospital in Seattle for treatment. The remaining seven passengers were taken to a US Coast Guard base camp for health checks.

David Gudgel, CEO of Kenmore Air, expressed relief that all passengers and the pilot were rescued safely, stating that the company's first priority is now the treatment and necessary support for the injured. 

He added that they are fully cooperating with the relevant authorities in the investigation of the accident and that confirmed information will be released gradually.