BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, Wash. — Coast Guard officials responded to a single engine Cessna crash into Eagle Harbor just off of Bainbridge Island Sunday afternoon.
Rescue crews raced in from all different directions, even enlisting local boaters.
A woman in her 60s was rescued at the scene. She was first spotted by a good Samaritan in a boat who pulled her out of the water. She was airlifted to Seattle's Harborview Medical Center in critical condition.
A second person in the plane, a man in his 70s, is still missing, according to Coast Guard officials. See photos of the search efforts for the second person here.
Residents on Wing Point saw the plane crash and called 911. "We heard this strange noise, like inexplicable noise... A womping sound, obviously it was the sound of propellors going into the water. We didn't know that at the time," described Leah Boyan.
Leah Boyan and her husband first thought it was a boat crash and called 911.
"It was like a geyser coming out of the water. It was going way up into the air," said Will Boyan. They could see there was a woman in the water. "I could hear her calling for help."
They were amazed how fast the plane sank. "It sank in seconds, I don't think it was even four seconds," said Will Boyan.
The Coast Guard searching for the missing pilot and his plane overnight. A Kitsap County fire rescue boat side-scan SONAR to search the area but was unable to locate the sunken aircraft.
The NTSB is taking over hte investigation, but won't send out investigators until the plane is recovered.
According to FAA records the plane is registered to an Edmonds man. It is unclear if he was piloting the aircraft when it crashed.
The Boyan's hope the woman recovers.
"It's just astounding she was rescued at all and she was able to withstand a plane crash. That's really remarkable. My heart goes out to her. I hope that she recovers." said Leah Boyan.
Editor's Note: Coast Guard officials earlier reported that two victims were taken to Emergency Medical Services after the plane crash, and that responders were looking for a possible third person.
The Coast Guard scanned the area near Eagle Harbor all night after the plane went down. The search was suspended Monday afternoon.
It is not yet known what caused the plane to crash.
Eagle Harbor is located on the east side of Bainbridge Island and is where the Seattle-Bainbridge ferry service operates.
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Below are time-stamped updates as emergency crews searched Sunday.
(5/28) 2:08 p.m. - Coast Guard officials suspend the search for the missing 70-year-old man.
(5/27) 8:50 p.m. - Coast Guard officials confirm the plane in use was a 1974 4-cycle two-seater fixed wing single engine.
(5/27) 7:58 p.m. - Coast Guard officials have corrected their earlier report that officials are looking for a third person. One person was rescued, and another is missing.
(5/27) 6:44 p.m. - Video from Chopper 7 shows first responders searching for the possible third person.
(5/27) 6:32 p.m. - Coast Guard officials say a second person from the plane crash has been found, and responders are now searching for a possible third person.
(5/27) 5:57 p.m. - Seattle Fire Department crews are responding to Bainbridge Island to assist with the crash response.
(5/27) 5:28 p.m - Officials are responding to the small plane crash into Eagle Harbor
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