Wreckage From Floatplane Crash In Washington Located

The wreckage of a floatplane that crashed into the waters of Washington state's Puget Sound last week has been found on the sea floor, The National Transportation Safety Board said Monday.

The NTSB said the depth and motion of the water hid the wreckage for several days, The Seattle Times reported.

Related Story: 1 Dead, 9 Missing After Floatplane Crashes In Washington

Sonar located a "large section" similar in length and width to the plane about 190 feet (58 meters) below the surface of Puget Sound near Whidbey Island, according to spokesperson Jennifer Gabris.

Investigators, the National Oceanic at Atmospheric Administration and the University of Washington's Applied Physics Laboratory scoured a 1.75-by-0.75-mile (2.8-by-1.2 kilometer) area where witnesses said the plane had crashed.

Because of the depth and 3-5 knot currents, the NTSB is seeking a remotely operated vehicle to recover the wreckage. The NTSB had said that crash details, including the cause of the crash, couldn't be determined until more of the wreckage was found.

Ten people were on the Sunday flight from Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands to the Seattle suburb of Renton when it crashed on Sept. 4. The only body that has been found was identified last week as Gabby Hanna of Seattle.

Actor and singer Megan Hilty said that her sister, brother-in-law and young nephew were among the other passengers.

The performer, known for roles on several TV shows and in multiple Broadway musicals, shared photos of her sister Lauren Hilty, brother-in-law Ross Mickel, and their son, Remy, on Instagram last week along with a message about the crash.

"On Sunday afternoon, a small float plane crashed into Puget Sound off the coast of Whidbey Island," Hilty wrote. "My beloved sister Lauren, brother-in-law Ross and baby nephew Remy were on that plane."

The actress also said that her sister was pregnant, and their family was expecting to welcome the baby, who would have been named Luca, next month. 

First published on September 12, 2022 / 11:55 PM

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