UPDATE: Snowbird plane crashes in Kamloops neighbourhood; one crew member killed, another injured
A Canadian Forces Snowbird jet crashed into the Brocklehurst residential area in Kamloops Sunday morning, killing one member of the Snowbirds team and causing serious injuries to a second crew member.
Global News is reporting Captain Jennifer Casey, the Public Affairs Officer for the Snowbirds, died in the crash according to multiple sources. Her family has been notified.
The jet had just taken off from the Kamloops airport around 11:40 a.m. Sunday morning.
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.
— CF Snowbirds (@CFSnowbirds) May 17, 2020
City of Kamloops officials say Kamloops Fire Rescue (KFR) crews arrived on scene in minutes and were joined by the Kamloops Airport “crash truck.” KFR is working with several other agencies including the RCMP, BC Ambulance, airport authorities, and military representatives.
KFR Chief Mike Adams confirmed only one house was affected by the fire created from the crash. He said no one was injured in the fire.
Video and images of the crash were distributed on multiple social media platforms. Video appears to show two people ejecting from the jet as it tumbled to the ground. However the status of the pilot and co-pilot is not known. Witnesses say a person was pulled from a roof of a home on a stretcher and placed into an ambulance. BC Health Minister Adrian Dix has confirmed at least one person was transported to hospital.
Late this morning @BC_EHS received multiple calls about a plane crash near the Kamloops airport. Paramedics and air ambulances were dispatched and one individual was transported to hospital. Our thoughts are with all affected during this difficult time.
— Adrian Dix (@adriandix) May 17, 2020
Witnesses say they saw up to two members of the flight crew eject and use parachutes before the plane went down on Glenview Avenue.
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
The takeoff of the plane and crash was captured on video.
Dramatic video.
CF SNOW BIRDS crash from airport.
Video appears to show @CFSnowbirds sequence of events with downed plane in mid air.
You can see pilot ejects. #snowbirds #kamloops #CFSnowbirds
— Living by YYZ. (@livingbyyyz) May 17, 2020
(Video by Shannon Forrest)
RCMP issued the following statement at 2:42 p.m.:
Emergency crews are currently at the scene of a plane crash in the North Shore area of Kamloops, B.C.
At approximately 11:42 am, reports were received that a Canadian Air Force Snowbird plane had crashed into a residence on Glenview Avenue. Police are asking for the public to refrain from attending the following streets in the area: Glenview Avenue, Crestline Street, Schreiner Street, Tranquille Road.
This is a dynamic situation and we are unable to confirm status or injuries at this time. The RCMP will be working with other safety and regulatory agencies to determine the cause of the crash.
Kamloops RCMP are requesting anyone that may have captured the incident on video to please call them at 250-828-3000.
—
Chelsy Gyger was across the street from the crash. She says she heard the jet impacting the ground and ran outside to see the wreckage in the yard of a neighbouring house. “We went running across the street and the plane and the house was on fire,” said Gyger. Debris from the crash was thrown into a nearby house. “Oh God, it was just chaos,” she added. At least one home was burned as a result of the crash. It is not known whether anyone on the ground was injured in the crash.
Zion Chong witnessed the crash from the Kamloops Airport. Chong told CFJC Today:
“The planes just lifted up and they were flying low and then they started pulling up after they gained some altitude. One plane started to turn left at a sharp angle and then started dropping (like a stunt) nose down. After dropping for a second, I saw a small explosion and saw the pilot eject then the plane just drop and exploded.”
Scene is still pretty crowded out in Brocklehurst, where a Canadian Forces Snowbird has gone down in the neighbourhood. Police have been steadily moving the line back as more and more of the public try to get close to the scene. #Kamloops @CFJC_Today pic.twitter.com/5TZ6AF4ae8
— Dylana (@DylanaKneeshaw) May 17, 2020
A plume of smoke was visible coming from a residential area in the Brocklehurst area.
The nine-member Snowbirds team had been planning a flyover the Okanagan Sunday morning which was aborted due to the wet weather and low clouds as part of a nationwide flyover tour to boost public morale, and honour first responders and frontline workers.
“I heard these two huge bangs and all of a sudden up in the sky there was a dark black circle of smoke,” said Kerri Turatus.
A witness says she rushed to this home where a @CFSnowbirds plane crashed in #Kamloops.
No official word on the condition of the pilot. pic.twitter.com/igJOCZvDmk
— Alanna Kelly (@CTVNewsAlanna) May 17, 2020