India, July 24 -- All 11 people aboard a Kenmore Air seaplane survived a harrowing crash landing in the San Juan Islands, escaping a burning aircraft that erupted into flames moments after touching down in Shallow Bay off the coast of Sucia Island. The rapid, multi-agency search-and-rescue operation brought the pilot and ten passengers safely ashore, though several sustained serious injuries, including head trauma and broken bones.

A Harrowing Descent in Shallow Bay

The single-engine de Havilland DHC-3 Otter, operating as Flight 140, had departed Seattle's Lake Union around 4:30 p.m. PDT bound for Roche Harbour on San Juan Island. Approximately 45 minutes into the routine regional flight, the floatplane encountered unexpected difficulti...