** Updated 12:30PM: The City of North Bend says to expect low-flying helicopters over the Snoqualmie Valley area this afternoon from 12PM – 2PM. The plane crash victims will be moved by helicopter to the medical examiners office. Officials are hopeful the cloud deck will clear for the recovery operation. The city says thank you for your understanding. **
** Updated 8AM: Searchers made it to the crash site about 7:30AM. Three people perished in the crash, two men and a woman. The names are not known at this time. It was a single-engine Cessna 172 that crashed into the side of Mt. Si at about 2,000 feet. You can follow Komo News Coverage of the story for the latest details and video. **
Snoqualmie Valley residents reported hearing an engine sputtering and then an explosion about 2AM, February 15, in the Little Si area of North Bend. Two on-call sheriff deputies also heard the explosion. King County Sherriff Sgt. Cindi West confirmed a plane crashed around that in the North Bend area.
King County Search and Rescue immediately responded with search helicopters who reported finding extensive crash damage on the face of the mountain at 3AM. They attempted to lower a rescuer to the scene, but it wasn’t possible in the cold and foggy conditions. A Search and Rescue Command Post has been established at a North Bend park and Search and Rescue Teams are currently hiking into the crash scene.
It is reported the FAA received a distress beacon from the plane’s transponder which pin-pointed the crash site. It is suspected the low-flying plane crashed into the side of Mt Si’s rock shear. It is unknown at this time who the plane belonged to or how many passengers were on board.
