Search is called off for nine people presumed dead after float plane crash in Seattle: Coast guard found one body before looking throughout the night

  •  10 people, including one child were aboard the seaplane when it took off from Washington's Mutiny Bay
  •  At 3:30 p.m., about 18 minutes into a 50 minute flight, the plane disappeared from view
  • Good Samaritan boaters who witnessed the crash were the first on the scene and were able to recover one of the victims 
  •  The other nine passenger, including the child, have not been recovered
  •  Northwest Seaplanes, which previously had an accident-free record, owned the aircraft

By Janon Fisher For Dailymail.Com

Published: | Updated:

The Coast Guard have abandoned the search for nine people, including one child, who are presumed dead after a seaplane crashed in Washington's Mutiny Bay near Seattle. 

Emergency services scrambled to the scene after aircraft went down around 3:30pm on Sunday on its way to Renton Municipal Airport - a 50 minute flight. 

Responders found one body of the 10 people who were onboard the seaplane, but despite searching through the night, no other remains have been found. 

'It is always difficult when it comes time to make a decision to stop searching,' said Capt. Daniel Broadhurst, Incident Management Branch Chief for the 13th Coast Guard District. 

'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.' 

This is the last know photo of the Northwest Seaplane craft that went down in Mutiny Bay on Sunday, killing all 10 passengers and pilot

This is the last know photo of the Northwest Seaplane craft that went down in Mutiny Bay on Sunday, killing all 10 passengers and pilot

The Northwest Seaplane aircraft touches down during an earlier flight. The company had a flawless safety record before the crash

The Northwest Seaplane aircraft touches down during an earlier flight. The company had a flawless safety record before the crash

The cause of the crash is still being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Chase Larabee was enjoying his powerboat on Sunday at Friday Harbor happened to snap a photo of the aircraft two days before it went down.

'A bit eerie as they chatted with a few people waiting for the plane today on their way to the dock,' he said in a Facebook post. 'Being in the aviation industry I do know of he pilot and the airline operator. Both have immaculate safety records. May they rest in Peace.' 

 The Coast Guard said that good Samaritans who saw the plane go down were first on the scene and were able to recover one deceased passenger.

Flight data shows that the airplane was only 18 minutes into its 50 minute flight when it went down

Flight data shows that the airplane was only 18 minutes into its 50 minute flight when it went down

The plane was flying from Friday Harbor to Seattle Tacoma International Airport when it crashed, the Coast Guard reported

The plane was flying from Friday Harbor to Seattle Tacoma International Airport when it crashed, the Coast Guard reported 

The Coast Guard and other local authorities covered 2,100 nautical miles around Whidbey Island looking for the passengers of the plane

The Coast Guard and other local authorities covered 2,100 nautical miles around Whidbey Island looking for the passengers of the plane

At least nine passengers including one child are presumed dead after a float plane crashed into Washington's Mutiny Bay on Sunday

At least nine passengers including one child are presumed dead after a float plane crashed into Washington's Mutiny Bay on Sunday

Two Coast Guard cutters spent Sunday night into Monday looking for survivors of the seaplane that went down in Mutiny Bay

Two Coast Guard cutters spent Sunday night into Monday looking for survivors of the seaplane that went down in Mutiny Bay

The Coast Guard, local sheriffs, South Whidbey Island Fire and EMS and the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station helicopter continued to search for survivors Sunday afternoon. 

Two cutters monitored the waters around the area of the crash Sunday night into Monday.

The Coat Guard said that they searched 2,100 nautical miles of the area.

The crash happened in Mutiny Bay, off Whidbey Island, about 40 miles northwest of Seattle.

The plane was last observed near Oak Harbor, about 18 minutes into the flight. 

According to Flightradar24, the float plane was a 55-year-old de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter. The craft is owned by Northwest Seaplanes, a family-owned business started in 1988, according to its website.

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