One Canadian Forces Snowbird jet that was to fly over Salt Spring Island this weekend in honour of honour Cpt. Kevin Hage, whose has family that live on the island, crashed enroute in Kamloops.
UPDATED March 17th - 08:00 PM: One member of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) was killed on Sunday May 17, 2020 and one other member injured in an accident involving a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CT-114 Tutor aircraft in the vicinity of Kamloops, British Columbia.
Killed was Captain Jennifer Casey, the team’s Public Affairs Officer, originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Captain Richard MacDougall, one of the team’s coordinators and pilot of the aircraft, was injured and is being treated for his injuries.
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds were deployed on Operation INSPIRATION, a cross-Canada tour to lift the spirits of Canadians and salute front-line workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time of the accident, the CF Snowbirds were taking off from the airport in Kamloops, British Columbia.
The CAF are providing our members and their families with as much support as possible to help them through this difficult time.
A RCAF Flight Safety team will depart from Ottawa shortly to investigate the circumstances of the accident and will begin their work immediately upon arrival.
Captain Jenn Casey, CF Snowbirds Public Affairs Officer
UPDATED March 17th - 12:45 PM: 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. - Canadian Forces Snowbirds
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
Canadian #Snowbird being rescued after landing on roof of house after ejection #Kamloops. pic.twitter.com/NeyvSMLKbU
— Jamie Rye (@tayho1977) May 17, 2020
A Canadian Forces Snowbirds aircraft has 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.
— CF Snowbirds (@CFSnowbirds) May 17, 2020
#Kamloops aircraft crash scene from facebook pic.twitter.com/a8XzvyaIS6
— Kamscan (@Kamscan) May 17, 2020
Witness video of crash sequence. #BREAKING #Kamloops @RadioNLNews pic.twitter.com/gP3xH5uKOQ
— Brett Mineer (@MineerBrett) May 17, 2020
Snowbird crashes in Kamloops. pic.twitter.com/l5qQHOf7tR
— Steve Delaney (@TheKamloopian) May 17, 2020
OKANAGAN: We know some areas are starting to clear up, however transit through some of the mountain passes have very low cloud cover which is unsafe for flying 9 jets. We are going to preposition to Comox to start working our way west.
— CF Snowbirds (@CFSnowbirds) May 17, 2020
DELAY: Rain and low visibility in the Okanagan right now. We're looking at options. Standby for updates. https://t.co/eqdbT68oIZ
— CF Snowbirds (@CFSnowbirds) May 17, 2020
