There’s a Whale on the Runway at a Seaside Pacific Northwest Airport

A deceased whale has washed up on shore in close proximity to the stretch of sand used as a runway at Copalis Beach (S16) in Washington.

Meg Godlewski

Friday, November 24, 2023 at 01:01 PM ET

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Copalis Beach Airport (S16) is located 15 miles north of Bowerman Airport (KHQM) in Washington state. [Courtesy: Washington State Department of Transportation - CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DEED]

Key Takeaways:

A deceased fin whale has washed ashore near Copalis Beach (S16) in Washington, a unique legal beach runway, prompting a warning for pilots.
The Washington State Department of Transportation advises pilots to exercise extra caution due to the whale's presence, ongoing investigation, and potential for increased pedestrian activity or temporary runway restrictions.
Authorities plan to allow the large whale to decompose naturally and be carried out by the tides, a decision influenced by a notorious 1970 incident where dynamiting a whale carcass caused chaotic and damaging results.

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Pilots who intend to head to Copalis Beach (S16) in Washington state might want to reconsider, as a deceased whale has washed up on shore in close proximity to the stretch of sand used as a runway.

According to the Washington State Department of Transportation Aviation division, the deceased cetacean is a fin whale. According to whalefacts.org, the fin whale is a baleen whale that can grow up to 90 feet long and weigh up to 130 tons, making them the second largest whale in existence after the blue whale.