A PLANE carrying 11 people burst into flames after crash-landing in waters off a remote island, leaving multiple passengers hurt and one fighting for their life.

Dramatic footage shows the stricken aircraft was engulfed in flames and ripped apart after it came down during an attempted emergency landing.

A plane carrying 11 people crash-landed and burst into flames off Sucia Island

The de Havilland DHC-3 floatplane was engulfed in flames during an emergency landing

Footage captured the aircraft just moments before landing on the water off Sucia Island

The de Havilland DHC-3 single-engine floatplane crashed into Shallow Bay off Sucia Island, Washington, at around 5.15pm local time on Thursday, roughly 45 minutes after taking off from Seattle.

The aircraft, operated by Kenmore Air, had been heading for Roche Harbor when the pilot reportedly attempted an emergency landing before the plane caught fire.

Miraculously, all 10 passengers and the pilot survived the fiery wreck and were accounted for, despite the aircraft being left burning just feet from the island’s rocky shoreline.

Officials said one person was left in a critical condition, while others suffered injuries ranging from head wounds to broken bones and lacerations.

Two injured passengers were airlifted by the US Coast Guard to a hospital in Bellingham, while another two were taken to nearby Orcas Island for evaluation and treatment.

The Orcas Island Fire and Rescue department said multiple emergency agencies, including the Coast Guard and the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, rushed to the scene.

Kenmore Air chief executive David Gudgel confirmed the aircraft belonged to the company and said he was relieved everyone on board had survived.

He said: “Our immediate focus is ensuring our passengers and pilot receive the care and support they need.

“We extend our sincere thanks to the United States Coast Guard, local emergency responders, and everyone assisting in the response. Kenmore Air is fully cooperating with the investigating authorities, and we will continue providing verified information as it becomes available.”

Gudgel also said he was “grateful that everyone aboard has been accounted for.”

The cause of the emergency landing and the fire has not yet been determined.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have both launched investigations into the crash.

At the time of the incident, thunderstorms were moving through the area, with wind gusts of between 12 and 20mph and visibility of around 10 miles, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Harrison Rademacher.

Kenmore Air is the largest seaplane operator in the US, carrying more than 90,000 passengers each year to over 45 destinations across the Pacific Northwest and Canada.

Source: https://www.the-sun.com/news/16739021/plane-bursts-flames-crash-landing-washington-island-injured/