Aircraft Carrying 11 Catches Fire After Emergency Landing in WA

WHO:

KIRO 7 News Seattle - Kenmore Air was the operator of the plane involved in the incident.

KIRO 7 News Seattle - David Gudgel is the CEO of Kenmore Air.

WHAT:

KIRO 7 News Seattle - A Kenmore plane carrying 11 people crashed and caught fire after an emergency landing.

KIRO 7 News Seattle - There were 10 passengers and 1 pilot on board the plane.

KIRO 7 News Seattle - One person sustained critical injuries, while others suffered broken bones, head injuries, and lacerations.

KIRO 7 News Seattle - Two individuals were transported to a hospital in Bellingham, and two others were taken to a facility on Orcas Island.

NY Post - The plane was completely engulfed in flames and torn to pieces after the crash.

WHERE:

KIRO 7 News Seattle - The crash occurred off Sucia Island in the San Juan Islands, Washington.

KIRO 7 News Seattle - The plane departed from Lake Union and was headed to Roche Harbor.

WHEN:

KIRO 7 News Seattle - The crash happened around 5:15 p.m. on a Thursday evening.

WHY:

KIRO 7 News Seattle - The cause of the crash is unclear, and there is speculation about whether weather conditions, including lightning, were a factor.

HOW:

KIRO 7 News Seattle - Video footage shows the plane making a shaky landing before crashing and catching fire.

KIRO 7 News Seattle - Emergency response included the U.S. Coast Guard and fire crews from Orcas Island, San Juan Island, and Lopez Island, along with the San Juan County parks and sheriff’s office.

(UPDATED July 24, 2026 06:48 UTC)

A Kenmore Air plane carrying 11 people crashed off Sucia Island in the San Juan Islands, Washington, after making an emergency landing, resulting in the aircraft being completely engulfed in flames. One person sustained critical injuries, while others suffered various injuries, leading to two individuals being transported to a hospital in Bellingham and two others taken to a facility on Orcas Island. The cause of the crash remains unclear, with speculation about whether weather conditions, including lightning, played a role, as emergency response teams, including the U.S. Coast Guard, rushed to the scene.