A Snowbirds pilot walked away from a rare air show plane crash unscathed Tuesday (Aug. 2) afternoon, after their plane went down at an airport in northeastern B.C.
They were taking off from the North Peace Regional Airport shortly after noon when their aircraft went down and crashed, according to a statement from the local air show society.
“Despite all of the safety precautions that are taken, incidents do happen and it’s heart-breaking in the air show world,” the Fort St. John International Air Show Society said in a Facebook post.
A spokesperson with the Canadian Armed Forces told Black Press Media the pilot was able to land the aircraft (a Canadair CT-114 Tutor) on the airfield, but that it suffered some damaged in the process.
They said the pilot didn’t suffer any physical injuries and is being assessed by medical personnel. The cause of the crash is being investigated, and the Canadian Armed Forces said it’s too soon to say what impact the incident may have on future Snowbirds performances.
The City of Fort St. John also reported the crash on Facebook, noting that police, fire and paramedics were called to the airport for an “aviation incident,” which had resulted in a fire. The airport fire department extinguished it before the local fire department arrived.
The city also reported no known injuries, but asked people to avoid the area.
The Fort St. John International Air Show Society hosted an air show in the area July 30 and 31, but it’s not clear whether Tuesday’s flight was part of an event, practice, or otherwise.
As a result of the crash, though, the Snowbirds are cancelling their appearance at the Pentiction Peach Festival on Wednesday. A spokesperson said they likely also won’t be able attend the Abbotsford Air Show on Aug. 5 to 7.
READ ALSO: Vintage video logs of B.C.’s highways a vivid trip back in time
@janeskrypnek
jane.skrypnek@blackpress.ca
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
