Snowbird crash landing
Matt Preprost, Dave Luneberg / Alaska Highway News – August 2, 2022 / 2:20 pm | History: 378354
Photo: Emergency crews respond to a Snowbird plane crash at North Peace Regional Airport, Aug. 2, 2022.
A Canadian Forces Snowbird pilot escaped serious injury Tuesday after their plane crashed on takeoff in Fort St. John.
Emergency crews gathered in a hay field southeast of North Peace Regional Airport shortly after 12 p.m. after the crash.
Maj. Trevor Reid of the Snowbirds team says the CT-114 Tutor suffered what is called a “hard landing” while taking off from the airport. The pilot was not injured and is being examined by a medical team.
“The aircraft did land hard and the sole occupant, the pilot, was not physically injured but was medically examined in accordance with RCAF rules,” Reid said.
The Snowbirds Demonstration Team was in town for the return of the International Air Show weekend.
Most of the team has since flown to Penticton for a performance there, but on Tuesday afternoon there was one intact Snowbird seen on the tarmac where they were set up for the air show.
Reed said it was too early to determine the condition of the Snowbird, which is still at the airport, and the team’s planned appearance in Penticton.
Airport officials say the emergency operations center was activated and airport firefighters and the Fort St. John Fire Department were on the scene.
A witness in the area reported hearing the sound of a plane with engine trouble, but airport officials say the cause of the crash is unknown and still under investigation.
RCMP Cst. Chad Neustaeter said members of the RCMP are also on scene “to assist with the initial emergency response, but details are still being worked out.”
Officials say they are working to determine what the operational impacts are to the airport.
“Despite all the precautions that are taken, accidents do happen and it is heartbreaking in the airshow world,” airshow organizers said in a statement.
“North Peace Regional Airport is working with local first responders and ground crews to attend to the pilot and his aircraft. We ask that you during this time be respectful of the families of the pilots involved in the incident and ensure that anything you share comes from an official source.”
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