Captain Jennifer Casey confirmed dead in Snowbirds plane crash in Kamloops
CF Snowbirds Captain Jennifer Casey has died as a result of the tragic plane crash that took place in Kamloops, B.C. on Sunday, according to the latest update from the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Global News is reporting Captain Jennifer Casey, the Public Affairs Officer for @CFSnowbirds has died in the plane crash in Kamloops according to multiple sources. Her family has been notified of this tragedy. #CAF #RIP
— Mercedes Stephenson (@MercedesGlobal) May 17, 2020
Two planes took off from the Kamloops Airport around 11:30 a.m. before one plane turned abruptly in mid-air, spewing smoke before nosediving toward the ground.
A Snowbirds plane has crashed into a house near Kamloops and amateur video shows the moment the plane went down 📸 Shannon Forrest #Canada #CFSnowbirds #CanadianForces #Kamloops #KamloopsCrash #BritishColumbia pic.twitter.com/cMroil0nCJ
— Freshdaily (@freshdaily) May 17, 2020
The Royal Canadian Air Force issued a statement on Twitter.
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.
— Royal Canadian Air Force (@RCAF_ARC) May 17, 2020
One person that's said to be the pilot managed to eject from the plane before it crashed, landing with a parachute on the roof of a house on Schreiner Street.
Kamloops Fire Rescue transported the person off the roof on a spinal board and into an ambulance.
An eye witness also reports seeing "a deceased female with catastrophic injuries" nearby the crash sight.
Photos of emergency personnel responding to today's #Snowbirds crash in #Kamloops. More info on @CastanetKam, and we'll be updating as more info comes in. pic.twitter.com/WKtgwUlQCo
— Brendan Kergin ✒️ (@BKergin) May 17, 2020
The plane crashed into a house on nearby Glenview Drive, setting the residence on fire and scattering debris across the lawn. The two elderly residents of the home escaped without injury, per CBC.
The woman was in the basement at the time of the crash while the man was outside in the garden.
Snowbird crashes in Kamloops. pic.twitter.com/l5qQHOf7tR
— Steve Delaney (@TheKamloopian) May 17, 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau extended his gratitude to the emergency personnel in Kamloops that responded to the incident, and he said that his thoughts are with the "brave members" of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
I would also like to thank the emergency personnel in Kamloops who responded so quickly to this tragic incident.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) May 17, 2020
This is the second crash involving the Canadian military's celebrated aerobatic team in less than a year.
Capt. Kevin Domon-Grenier was flying a jet over the state of Georgia last October, where the Snowbirds were scheduled to perform an air show, when the crash occurred.
He sustained minor injuries after landing in a farmer's field. No one else was hurt.
The Snowbirds have had eight fatalities since their inception in the 1970s: seven pilots and one passenger. This will be the ninth fatality in their history.
The RCAF says that more information will be communicated in the near future.
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