Coast Guard suspends search for 9 people missing after float plane crashes in Puget Sound

MUTINY BAY, Wash. — One person died and nine people remained missing Monday after a float plane crashed in Puget Sound in Washington state on Sunday, the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed to KIRO-TV.

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Update 3:54 p.m. EDT Sept. 5: The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its active search for the remaining nine missing people at noon local time Monday.

In a statement, obtained by KIRO-TV, the Coast Guard said that they covered 1,283 linear nautical miles and saturated an area more than 2,100 square nautical miles during their search.

All next of kin have been notified of their decision, the TV station reported.

Update 2:27 p.m. EDT Sept. 5: The U.S. Coast Guard continued its search Monday for nine people, including a child, missing after a float plane crashed in Puget Sound on Sunday afternoon, about halfway between Friday Harbor and Renton Municipal Airport, KIRO-TV reported.

“We generally assist in recovery operations, but at this moment, the Coast Guard is in full search-and-rescue mode to find survivors,” Scott Giard, with U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue, told the TV station.

North Whidbey Fire marine units, Kitsap County Fire marine units, Everett Fire marine units and Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Search & Rescue are also assisting in the response.

Terry Ney, deputy chief of operations for South Whidbey Fire & Rescue, told KIRO that it’s unlikely the search will yield any additional survivors.

“For whatever reason, (the plane) went straight for the water, didn’t even attempt a landing, went straight down into the water,” Ney said, adding, “At this point, we’re not expecting to find any survivors.”

Meanwhile, the National Transportation Safety Board has determined that the single-engine aircraft was a DHC-3 Turbine Otter, KIRO reported.

Original report: Meanwhile, South Whidbey Fire officials confirmed the fatality to KIRO, noting that an active recovery has been launched.

According to U.S. Coast Guard officials, nine adults and one child were onboard the plane, the TV station reported.

Float planes feature pontoons, allowing the aircraft to land on water.

The plane was en route from Friday Harbor, a popular tourist destination in the San Juan Islands, to Renton, Washington, when the crash occurred, according to the Coast Guard. The agency previously stated that the plane was flying to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

According to The Associated Press, the crash happened at 3:11 p.m. in Mutiny Bay, off Whidbey Island, about 40 miles northwest of Seattle.

The Coast Guard said four Coast Guard vessels, a rescue helicopter and an aircraft were involved in the search, along with first responders from area rescue and law enforcement agencies.

- The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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