Search Suspended For 9 Missing In Washington Float Plane Crash

WHIDBEY ISLAND, WA — The United States Coast Guard has suspended its search for nine people aboard a float plane that crashed just west of Whidbey Island, officials announced on Twitter Monday afternoon.

The De Havilland DHC-3 was carrying 10 people when it crashed into Mutiny Bay, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Coast Guard officials said nine adults and a child were on board the plane, and Watchstanders fielded the first crash report at about 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.

A massive search involving multiple agencies was then undertaken to save those on board.

One person's body was recovered by a good Samaritan, and a search continued overnight, but without success, officials said.

"The Coast Guard has suspended its active search for the remaining nine missing individuals effective at noon," the agency's statement read. "Coast Guard assets completed 26 search sorites, covering 1,283 linear nautical miles and saturating an area of more than 2100 sq. nautical miles."

The plane, which was owned by Northwest Seaplanes and operated by Friday Harbor Seaplanes, departed Friday Harbor around 2:50 p.m. and was bound for Renton Municipal Airport when it crashed, Coast Guard officials said.

The Coast Guard and local partner agencies, including county sheriffs, South Whidbey Island Fire and Emergency Medical Services, and a helicopter from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, all searched the water on Sunday afternoon, according to the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard used the 87-foot cutters, the Osprey and the Blue Shark, as well as a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium and crew from Station Seattle, and an RB-M crew from Station Port Angeles. An MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter crew from Air Station Port Angeles, and a C-27J fixed-wing aircraft and crew from Air Station Sacramento, California, were also used in the search.

The two cutters remained on scene overnight and continued the search, and aircrews resumed searching Monday morning shortly after sunrise, officials said.

In a news release, Capt. Daniel Broadhurst, incident management branch chief for the 13th Coast Guard District, said it is always difficult when it comes time to make a decision to stop searching.

“The hearts of all the first responders go out to those who lost a family member, a loved one, or a friend in the crash,” he added.

When the plane crashed Sunday, first responders from South Whidbey Fire, the Island County Sheriff's Office, and Snohomish County Sheriff's Office rushed to the scene as guardsmen deployed a rescue helicopter and two cutters, along with three other crews.

Jon Gabelein of South Whidbey Fire/EMS told a reporter from Komo News that witnesses on shore saw the plane “nose dive into the water.”

The names of the 10 people on board the plane have not yet been released.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are expected investigate the cause of the crash.

Feroze Dhanoa, Lucas Combos, and The Associated Press contributed additional reporting to this story.

Related Story:

• Float Plane Crashes Into Mutiny Bay: 1 Dead, 9 Missing