By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

FATAL CRASH

Tragedy strikes Snowbirds during Kamloops flyover

May 17, 2020 | 12:40 PM

KAMLOOPS — One crewmember has died and another is seriously injured after they ejected from their Snowbird and the plane crashed into a neighbourhood near the Kamloops Airport.

The Canadian Forces Snowbirds confirmed the loss of life on their Twitter account several hours after the crash.

The incident occurred shortly before noon on Sunday, May 17.

The Royal Canadian Air Force has confirmed public affairs officer Capt. Jenn Casey was killed in the incident.

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Multiple witnesses reported on social media to seeing a plane crash into a home in the Brocklehurst area east of the airport around 12 p.m. on Sunday, May 17.

Nearby neighbour Chelsy Gyger described chaos on the street.

“We heard the loudest boom, the biggest bang. We looked across the street and there’s huge smoke everywhere. The plane and the house were on fire. It was just chaos.”

She said the plane hit the yard with a sizable amount of debris hitting the house.

Zion Chong told CFJC he watched the crash from the Kamloops Airport.

“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 dropped and exploded.”

The Snowbirds were due to fly over Vancouver Island’s east coast on Sunday but were delayed due to weather, before taking off into the Interior.

This article will be updated as more information becomes available.

With files from CFJC Today

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