Pilot in hospital after seaplane crash at Lake Meridian

KENT, Washington. – A man is in hospital with life-threatening injuries after the seaplane he was flying crashed in Lake Meridian Park in Kent.

“It was a very dynamic, very turbulent scene,” said Pat Pawlack, director of public information for the Puget Sound Fire Department. It happened at 10:10 a.m. Saturday.

“On the way we received the news that it was upside down in the lake,” said Pawlack.

As of Saturday afternoon, the plane was still in the water. From a nearby dock, only parts of the landing gear could be seen just above the water’s surface. Pawlack told FOX 13 that the pilot was the only person on board.

He told FOX 13 that when emergency crews arrived on scene, three civilian boats were surrounding the plane and had attached several lines to it to prevent it from sinking.

He added that some of the neighbors were also in the water, while others waited for rescuers in the community park before taking them to the scene. With the help of the neighbors, rescuers rescued the pilot. They treated his life-threatening injuries and then took him to a Seattle hospital.

“We want to extend our deepest thanks to all the neighbors who helped us,” Pawlack said. “If it was just us and law enforcement and we didn’t have the support of the community to send their boats out there or additional boats to get us out there, maybe it would have been a different outcome… as far as the family goes, our thoughts and prayers are with them.” The circumstances of the crash are unknown at this time,” Pawlack said.

He added that Puget Sound Fire and other agencies are in contact with the NTSB, FAA and Department of Ecology to discuss next steps in this investigation.

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