Blacklight
BANNED
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2017
- Messages
- 2,490
- Reaction score
- 10
- Country
- Location
One dead, another injured after a Snowbird plane crashes into Brocklehurst house, near Kamloops Airport
Victor Kaisar
May 17, 2020 12:09 pm
UPDATE – A member of the Snowbirds team is dead and another was taken to hospital after a Snowbird plane crashed into a house on Glenview Avenue, in the Brocklehurst area of Kamloops, just before noon today.
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce that one member of the CF Snowbirds team has died,” said a tweet from the Royal Canadian Air Force. “We can confirm that we have contacted all primary family members of those involved.”
“Our previous statement indicated that the surviving member of the crash suffered serious injuries, we can confirm that their injuries are not considered life threatening.”
A defence source told The Canadian Press that Captain Jenn Casey, a public affairs officer with the Canadian Forces, died in the incident. That source was granted anonymity, according to the Canadian Press, because officials have yet to publicly confirm the identity of the crash victim.
“We received multiple calls about the crash at 11:42 a.m. and dispatched some of our paramedics,” Peter Darbyshire, with BC EHS, told NL News just before 2 p.m. “At this point…I don’t have a condition for you.”
The mayor of Kamloops, Ken Christian, says the crash has shaken the city to its core.
“The military have indicated that they are sending an investigation team to Kamloops and they will be here shortly,” Christian said, in an update to media on Sunday afternoon.
“In the meantime, the birds are grounded here in Kamloops and we have extended every thing that the city of Kamloops and Kamloops Airport can do for the Snowbirds team while they are here.”
Christian says the crash is especially tragic since it was just yesterday that the Snowbirds flew into Kamloops as part of Operation Inspiration.
“I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the Kamloops Airport – YKA – for their response,” noted Christian. “Kamloops Fire and Rescue, the BC Ambulance Service, the RCMP and in particular our dispatchers, and I met personally with our dispatchers earlier this afternoon.”
Canada’s Defence Minister, Harjit Sajjan took to twitter to say he is deeply saddened by the news of today’s plane crash.
“My thoughts are with all those involved. The Canadian Forces are working with local authorities and will update as information becomes available,” he said.
Also in a tweet, Shadow Minister of National Defence, James Bezan noted that he too was saddened to learn of the incident in Kamloops.
“We pray for the Snowbird who was hospitalized and mourn the loss of the fallen, Bezan added. “You are in our thoughts and prayers.”
Kamloops Fire Chief Mike Adams says firefighters were on scene roughly five minutes after the crash. In an interview with NL News, he confirmed that there were no injures to any of the people who were in the house on Glenview Avenue, as they were able to evacuate before the fire.
“The house that was impacted and then houses adjacent were evacuated as well,” Adams said. “Those people are back in their homes at this time, and then obviously we’ve cordoned off the area to begin an investigation in partnership with the RCMP, and military representatives.”
“We also thank the community and neighbours in that area for being very cooperative and allowing us to do the good work that we do.”
BC RCMP Southeast District Spokesperson Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey says police are asking for people with any video footage to call them at 250-828-3000.
This is the second second crash involving the Snowbirds aerobatic team in less than a year.
Witness Describe Scene
Shannon Forrest was watching the two planes take off this morning by Kamloops Airport when she saw the incident happen in front of her eyes.
“I saw the one plane continue to go forward and then the plane that crashed, he had veered off to the side and went up higher, and then he started to spin around,” she told NL News.
“And I thought he was doing a trick, and I realized that the plane had died, and it started to spiral downwards, and then I saw the two deployments. I believe there was two pilots, but it may only be one, I don’t know, but I saw two chairs deploy of the plane, and then the plane crashed and hit the ground.”
Social media was full of several pictures and video showing black smoke in the area by Kamloops Airport taken by numerous eyewitnesses.
“We were looking towards the airport and somebody on the second floor [of RiverBend Manor] said he heard a big bang and then the big plume of smoke went up,” said witness Drina Latrace. “Its bad, whatever it is.”
Kenny Hinds, who lives in a house seven doors down from the crash site, said it looked like the living room of the house where the crash occurred was on fire.
“I just started running down the street. And I got there maybe a minute after it crashed and there was a couple of residents that had their hoses out and they were trying to put the flames out because it hit a house,” he told the Canadian Press.
“It looked like most of it landed in the front yard, but maybe a wing or something went through the roof perhaps.”
The Snowbirds aerobatics team was scheduled to make a trip from Kamloops to Kelowna via Merritt, Princeton, and Vernon today as part of Operation Inspiration during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Operation Inspiration started in Nova Scotia earlier this month and was aimed at boosting morale as Canadians continue to struggle with the pandemic.
“I’ve seen the Snowbirds since I was a little kid at Abbotsford and things like that,” Geoff, who declined to provide his last name, told NL News. “I was pretty excited to see them come in yesterday and this isn’t’ the way I wanted it to go.”
– With files from Brett Mineer, Bill Cowen, Jon Keen, and The Canadian Press
Photo submitted. More details will be added as they become available.
It is with heavy hearts that we announce that one member of the CF Snowbirds team has died and one has sustained serious injuries. We can confirm that we have contacted all primary family members of those involved. More information will be communicated in the near future.
— Royal Canadian Air Force (@RCAF_ARC) May 17, 2020
I have been in touch with @HarjitSajjan about the @CFSnowbirds crash in Kamloops, BC. My thoughts are with the brave members of the @RCAF_ARC. The CAF will provide an update as soon as possible.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) May 17, 2020
The #RCAF has been made aware that a Canadian Forces Snowbirds aircraft crashed in the vicinity of Kamloops, BC. Our priority at this time is determining the status of our personnel and supporting emergency personnel. When appropriate, more information will be made available.
— Royal Canadian Air Force (@RCAF_ARC) May 17, 2020
Here’s a video that was sent to us at @RadioNLNews from earlier this morning. #Kamloops pic.twitter.com/hc61YWscmQ
— Victor Mario Kaisar (@supermario_47) May 17, 2020
Photo via Delta McKean
A @CFSnowbirds just went down in Brock. Pilot ejected. #Kamloops pic.twitter.com/ZUJoM3Eby0
— ᎷᎥᏦᏋ (@MikeGT79) May 17, 2020
Emergency crews including Kamloops Airport’s aircraft rescue fleet are responding to an aircraft crash off airport involving a Canadian Snowbirds jet. More information to follow.
— Kamloops Airport (@KamloopsAirport) May 17, 2020
Sensitive content, and not my picture, but this was shared with Radio NL News by an eye-witness. #Kamloops #Snowbirds pic.twitter.com/8YWYff5tVU
— Victor Mario Kaisar (@supermario_47) May 17, 2020
Video from @JonKeenNLSports. @BC_EHS has confirmed that one person was taken to hospital from this crash scene. #Kamloops @RadioNLNews pic.twitter.com/F7RUlUmDGA
— Victor Mario Kaisar (@supermario_47) May 17, 2020
Victor Kaisar
May 17, 2020 12:09 pm
UPDATE – A member of the Snowbirds team is dead and another was taken to hospital after a Snowbird plane crashed into a house on Glenview Avenue, in the Brocklehurst area of Kamloops, just before noon today.
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce that one member of the CF Snowbirds team has died,” said a tweet from the Royal Canadian Air Force. “We can confirm that we have contacted all primary family members of those involved.”
“Our previous statement indicated that the surviving member of the crash suffered serious injuries, we can confirm that their injuries are not considered life threatening.”
A defence source told The Canadian Press that Captain Jenn Casey, a public affairs officer with the Canadian Forces, died in the incident. That source was granted anonymity, according to the Canadian Press, because officials have yet to publicly confirm the identity of the crash victim.
“We received multiple calls about the crash at 11:42 a.m. and dispatched some of our paramedics,” Peter Darbyshire, with BC EHS, told NL News just before 2 p.m. “At this point…I don’t have a condition for you.”
The mayor of Kamloops, Ken Christian, says the crash has shaken the city to its core.
“The military have indicated that they are sending an investigation team to Kamloops and they will be here shortly,” Christian said, in an update to media on Sunday afternoon.
“In the meantime, the birds are grounded here in Kamloops and we have extended every thing that the city of Kamloops and Kamloops Airport can do for the Snowbirds team while they are here.”
Christian says the crash is especially tragic since it was just yesterday that the Snowbirds flew into Kamloops as part of Operation Inspiration.
“I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the Kamloops Airport – YKA – for their response,” noted Christian. “Kamloops Fire and Rescue, the BC Ambulance Service, the RCMP and in particular our dispatchers, and I met personally with our dispatchers earlier this afternoon.”
Canada’s Defence Minister, Harjit Sajjan took to twitter to say he is deeply saddened by the news of today’s plane crash.
“My thoughts are with all those involved. The Canadian Forces are working with local authorities and will update as information becomes available,” he said.
Also in a tweet, Shadow Minister of National Defence, James Bezan noted that he too was saddened to learn of the incident in Kamloops.
“We pray for the Snowbird who was hospitalized and mourn the loss of the fallen, Bezan added. “You are in our thoughts and prayers.”
Kamloops Fire Chief Mike Adams says firefighters were on scene roughly five minutes after the crash. In an interview with NL News, he confirmed that there were no injures to any of the people who were in the house on Glenview Avenue, as they were able to evacuate before the fire.
“The house that was impacted and then houses adjacent were evacuated as well,” Adams said. “Those people are back in their homes at this time, and then obviously we’ve cordoned off the area to begin an investigation in partnership with the RCMP, and military representatives.”
“We also thank the community and neighbours in that area for being very cooperative and allowing us to do the good work that we do.”
BC RCMP Southeast District Spokesperson Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey says police are asking for people with any video footage to call them at 250-828-3000.
This is the second second crash involving the Snowbirds aerobatic team in less than a year.
Witness Describe Scene
Shannon Forrest was watching the two planes take off this morning by Kamloops Airport when she saw the incident happen in front of her eyes.
“I saw the one plane continue to go forward and then the plane that crashed, he had veered off to the side and went up higher, and then he started to spin around,” she told NL News.
“And I thought he was doing a trick, and I realized that the plane had died, and it started to spiral downwards, and then I saw the two deployments. I believe there was two pilots, but it may only be one, I don’t know, but I saw two chairs deploy of the plane, and then the plane crashed and hit the ground.”
Social media was full of several pictures and video showing black smoke in the area by Kamloops Airport taken by numerous eyewitnesses.
“We were looking towards the airport and somebody on the second floor [of RiverBend Manor] said he heard a big bang and then the big plume of smoke went up,” said witness Drina Latrace. “Its bad, whatever it is.”
Kenny Hinds, who lives in a house seven doors down from the crash site, said it looked like the living room of the house where the crash occurred was on fire.
“I just started running down the street. And I got there maybe a minute after it crashed and there was a couple of residents that had their hoses out and they were trying to put the flames out because it hit a house,” he told the Canadian Press.
“It looked like most of it landed in the front yard, but maybe a wing or something went through the roof perhaps.”
The Snowbirds aerobatics team was scheduled to make a trip from Kamloops to Kelowna via Merritt, Princeton, and Vernon today as part of Operation Inspiration during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Operation Inspiration started in Nova Scotia earlier this month and was aimed at boosting morale as Canadians continue to struggle with the pandemic.
“I’ve seen the Snowbirds since I was a little kid at Abbotsford and things like that,” Geoff, who declined to provide his last name, told NL News. “I was pretty excited to see them come in yesterday and this isn’t’ the way I wanted it to go.”
– With files from Brett Mineer, Bill Cowen, Jon Keen, and The Canadian Press
Photo submitted. More details will be added as they become available.
It is with heavy hearts that we announce that one member of the CF Snowbirds team has died and one has sustained serious injuries. We can confirm that we have contacted all primary family members of those involved. More information will be communicated in the near future.
— Royal Canadian Air Force (@RCAF_ARC) May 17, 2020
I have been in touch with @HarjitSajjan about the @CFSnowbirds crash in Kamloops, BC. My thoughts are with the brave members of the @RCAF_ARC. The CAF will provide an update as soon as possible.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) May 17, 2020
The #RCAF has been made aware that a Canadian Forces Snowbirds aircraft crashed in the vicinity of Kamloops, BC. Our priority at this time is determining the status of our personnel and supporting emergency personnel. When appropriate, more information will be made available.
— Royal Canadian Air Force (@RCAF_ARC) May 17, 2020
Here’s a video that was sent to us at @RadioNLNews from earlier this morning. #Kamloops pic.twitter.com/hc61YWscmQ
— Victor Mario Kaisar (@supermario_47) May 17, 2020
Photo via Delta McKean
A @CFSnowbirds just went down in Brock. Pilot ejected. #Kamloops pic.twitter.com/ZUJoM3Eby0
— ᎷᎥᏦᏋ (@MikeGT79) May 17, 2020
Emergency crews including Kamloops Airport’s aircraft rescue fleet are responding to an aircraft crash off airport involving a Canadian Snowbirds jet. More information to follow.
— Kamloops Airport (@KamloopsAirport) May 17, 2020
Sensitive content, and not my picture, but this was shared with Radio NL News by an eye-witness. #Kamloops #Snowbirds pic.twitter.com/8YWYff5tVU
— Victor Mario Kaisar (@supermario_47) May 17, 2020
Video from @JonKeenNLSports. @BC_EHS has confirmed that one person was taken to hospital from this crash scene. #Kamloops @RadioNLNews pic.twitter.com/F7RUlUmDGA
— Victor Mario Kaisar (@supermario_47) May 17, 2020
