One Surviving Team Member Landed On A Rooftop And The Other Lost Their Life

ANN RealTime Update, 2011ET, 051720: The RCAF has updated their communications with some unwelcome news that had been preiously reported to us, but was withheld out of respect for surviving family members until an official statement, "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."

ANN RealTime Update, 1741ET, 051720: The City of Kamlooops has filed the following statement: "The City of Kamloops confirms that an aircraft crash occurred earlier today near the Kamloops Airport. The aircraft went down at approximately 11:40 am on Sunday, May 17th near the Kamloops Airport (YKA) shortly after takeoff. The crash impacted a residential home, resulting in a structure fire. Kamloops Fire Rescue (KFR) crews arrived on scene in approximately 5 minutes and currently there are 14 KFR personnel and 5 apparatus onsite. KFR is working closely with assisting agencies including the RCMP, BC Ambulance, the YKA Crash Truck, Airport Authorities, and Military representatives..."

ANN RealTime Update, 1635ET, 051720: There is significant video of the accident appearing on social media, showing two Snowbird aircraft departing an airport, with the aircraft to the left suddenly pitching up aggressively, rolling over the top and continuing a rolling moment as it pitches toward the ground and impacts. Since the video is not the highest resolution, there is some question as to whether there is one or two ejections involved in this accident, while supplemental onsite social and general media reports indicate that another person may have been in the aircraft, and thereafter found near the impact site. An initial official statement has also just been issued: "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."

Initial News Report: ANN is getting corroborated reports of an accident involving the Canadian Forces famed Snowbirds flight demonstration team. The incident occurred quite recently at this writing (within the hour) and we will update as necessary, but what appears known so far is this...

The accident occurred in the Brocklehurst neighborhood of Kamloops, BC, after rain and low visibility delayed their departure from Okanagan, where they were preparing to launch on today's planned flyover. The accident apparently occurred shortly after departure.

After holding for weather as part of the Operation Inspiration formation flight tour across Canada, a single Snowbird Tutor aircraft has gone down and the pilot is reported to have ejected.

In the hour prior to the accident, the team reported, via social media that, "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."

The stricken CT-114 Tutor airframe appears (according to online video) to have impacted on or next to a house, but the pilot is currently reported to be the only known injury. Other imagery shows a parachute on a roof with locals rendering aid to the Snowbird pilot while still perched on the top of the structure.

A local witness is reported to have told media that, "The planes just lifted up and they were flying low and then they started pulling up after they gained some altitude. 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 drop and exploded."

We'll have more info shortly.

FMI: www.Canada.ca/the-snowbirds