A member of a Canadian Air Force acrobatic patrol died and another was injured in the crash on British Columbia on Sunday (17) of the plane they were following during an operation launched earlier this month to entertain Canadians during the new pandemic. coronavirus, according to a military statement.
“With a deep heart, we announce that one member of the CF Snowbird team has died and another has been injured,” wrote the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) on Twitter.
The fatal victim was identified as Captain Jenn Casey. “We are deeply saddened and in mourning with Jenn’s family and friends. Our thoughts are also with Captain MacDougall’s loved ones. We look forward to his prompt recovery,” he added in another message.
“A Canadian Forces Snowbirds plane crashed near the Kamloops community in C.B.,” wrote the Royal Canadian Air Force on the social network Twitter, referring to British Columbia as the crash site, but without giving further details.
“Right now, our priority is (…) supporting the efforts of emergency personnel,” he added.
According to the Canadian press, which cites witnesses, the aircraft crashed into a house shortly after taking off at the end of the morning from Kamloops airport, along with another plane.
Photos published in the local newspaper, Kamloops This Week, show the wreckage of the burning plane, which partially ignited.
According to the newspaper, the pilot managed to eject himself from the aircraft before the crash and parachuted down on the roof of a house.
Apparently, he suffered injuries to his back and neck, explains AFP.
Two planes were due to fly over British Columbia on Sunday as part of the so-called “Operation Inspiration”, launched to welcome Canadians’ efforts to respond to the new coronavirus pandemic.
The patrol, called “Snowbirds” and made up of nine aircraft that leave a trail of white smoke, had started the tour in Nova Scotia with the aim of flying over the country’s main cities at low altitude and from east to west.
(Article updated at 10:31 am)
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