A seaplane crashes into a remote island north of Seattle but all 11 on board are rescued
SEATTLE, USA: A seaplane carrying 11 people crashed and caught fire on the rocky coast of a remote, forested island near Washington’s border with Canada, but a swift rescue by nearby boats and a helicopter got everyone safely to hospitals.
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday one person was in critical condition, 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 cause of the crash was not immediately known.
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.
Videos posted on social media of Thursday’s crash show the aircraft turning to one side as it flies low over the water near several boats and the shore. The plane makes a hard landing, at first touching down on just one float, then 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.
