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Kenmore Air Otter Crashes Near Sucia Island, 11 Rescued

7/26/2026

Summary

Kenmore Air Crash

Kenmore Air DHC-3 flight 140 crashed near Sucia Island on July 23 2026, rescuing 11 aboard.
The plane left Lake Union 4:30 p.m., attempted a 5:15 p.m. and caught fire.
Four passengers, one critically, were taken to hospitals in Bellingham, Friday Harbor and Skagit County, while the pilot was released.
Kenmore Air cancelled July 24 flights, resuming July 25.
NTSB and FAA opened investigations while the U.S. Coast Guard, Navy and Canadian Coast Guard rescued the occupants.

Summary

Kenmore Air Turn

Flightradar24 data recorded the Otter making a 180-degree turn three minutes before it crashed, sending it back toward Sucia Island.
Kenmore Air said the pilot changed course to avoid a nearby thunderstorm.
The aircraft’s records show a 100-hour inspection was completed on June 25, meeting maintenance requirements.
The Canadian Coast Guard dispatched a hovercraft after an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast prompted nearby recreational vessels to evacuate passengers before flames spread.

History

Historical Context

After the February 12 2009 Colgan Air Flight 3407 crash that killed 50 people, the NTSB blamed pilot fatigue and prompted the FAA to tighten rest-time rules and require ATP certificates for regional pilots. Those reforms guide today’s Kenmore Air DHC-3 Otter investigation, with the NTSB and FAA leading the response and Coast Guard units conducting rescues.

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Kenmore Air Crash

Kenmore Air DHC-3 flight 140 crashed near Sucia Island on July 23 2026, rescuing 11 aboard.
The plane left Lake Union 4:30 p.m., attempted a 5:15 p.m. and caught fire.
Four passengers, one critically, were taken to hospitals in Bellingham, Friday Harbor and Skagit County, while the pilot was released.
Kenmore Air cancelled July 24 flights, resuming July 25.
NTSB and FAA opened investigations while the U.S. Coast Guard, Navy and Canadian Coast Guard rescued the occupants.

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