ISLAND COUNTY, Wash. — A Minnesota couple is among 10 people presumed dead after the float plane they were flying in crashed violently into Puget Sound near Seattle Sunday.
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) released a list of names Tuesday that included Luke and Rebecca Ludwig, who records indicate are from Excelsior. The Ludwigs were among a group flying from Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands to Renton Municipal Airport when the plane crashed just off Whidbey Island, approximately 30 miles northwest of downtown Seattle.
“We have nothing to share at this time, other than we are coping with this tragedy with overwhelming support from family, friends, and a loving community,” Rebecca's brother, Kyle Hosker, shared with KARE 11 in a statement.
The Minnetonka Girls Softball Association confirms Luke was a former assistant coach for many years. He was also working as an engineer for HomeLight, a real estate technology company based in Scottsdale, AZ that wrote this in a statement:
"The entire HomeLight team extends our deepest sympathies to both Luke and Becca’s families, friends, and loved ones. Luke was a deeply devoted father, husband, outdoorsman, and coach for his kids’ sports teams, known for his remarkable kindness and generous spirit. Here at HomeLight, Luke has been an incredible leader, engineer, and mentor for the HomeLight Home Loans engineering team — and the broader engineering and product teams at large — since he joined us over a year ago. We were privileged to know his warmth, intellect, and humor, and will miss him deeply."
A witness to the crash describes seeing the aircraft descending rapidly and nose-diving straight into Puget Sound. Matt Peterson says he and family members jumped into their boat and raced out to help, but only saw a few parts of the plane floating in the water. He describes a strong smell of jet fuel permeating the scene.
Just one passenger's body has been recovered. The rest are still missing, as is the fuselage of the de Havilland DHC-3 Otter which was operated by Friday Harbor Seaplanes, a service owned by Northwest Seaplanes.
USCG crews suspended the search for the remaining passengers Tuesday, and released their names. Along with the Ludwigs, the USCG says the other passengers are Patricia Hicks, Sandra Williams, Lauren Hilty, Remy Mickel, Ross Mickel, Joanne Mera and Gabrielle Hanna. The pilot of the float plane is identified as Jason Winters.
"The Coast Guard offers its deepest sympathies to those who lost a loved one in this tragedy,” said Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator Cmdr. Xochitl Castañeda in a released statement.
The Facebook page of Luke Ludwig shows a man with a clear love of outdoor adventure, displaying images of him kayaking, hiking and camping.
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