Canada Snowbirds team jet crashes in British Columbia
Canadian air force's Snowbirds exhibition team jet crashes in British Columbia, injuring at least one.
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A member of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds died and another is seriously injured after a jet that was scheduled to perform a flyover to honor first responders during the coronavirus pandemic crashed into the roof of a house and burst into flames Sunday in Kamloops, British Columbia.
The Royal Canadian Air Force confirmed the news on Twitter, adding that it contacted the victims' relatives and more information will be released at a later time.
The Canadian Air Force did not offer specifics on the identities of the deceased or injured.
The pilot managed to eject from the jet before it crashed and eyewitnesses said they saw a parachute on the roof with the jet on fire in the front yard of the house, according to reports by CBC News.
The group is seen as an equivalent to the United States' Blue Angels and Thunderbirds.
A plume of smoke rising over houses in Kamloops following the plane crash. (Twitter/MikeGT79/via REUTERS)
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British Columbia Minister of Health Adrian Dix said paramedics and air ambulances rushed to the scene and at took at least one person to the hospital.
Kamloops Airport's aircraft rescue fleet was assisting at the crash scene and the Canadian Forces Snowbird's official Twitter described the incident as "a developing situation."
CF Snowbirds reported low cloud cover on Sunday which was "unsafe for flying 9 jets," hindering the scheduled flyover in the Okanagan area.
"We are going to preposition to Comox to start working our way west," the CF Snowbirds tweeted.
They later posted: "Don’t worry, the longer term forecast looks better and we plan to be back on our way home to Moose Jaw! Keep watching our page for updates and enjoy your Sunday!"
Just a day before, the jets performed a flyover in Alberta, but when the aircraft arrived in Kamloops on Saturday, a Snowbirds pilot said the team was dealing with some "electrical malfunctions," CBC reported.
The plane, seen prior to crashing in Kamloops, in this still image obtained from a social-media video. (Shannon Forrest/via REUTERS)
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Video of two Snowbirds taking off on Sunday showed one jet lifting into the sky before plummeting down shortly after takeoff.
Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this report.
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