Plane Explodes Shortly After Passengers Escape

One of the memorable story lines of 2009 is bound to be the number of spectacular general aviation accidents which saw all occupants of the aircraft escape unharmed. The latest is the spectacular crash-landing of a Beech King Air A100 in northern Manitoba about 9:45 pm Saturday.

CTV reports the Sky North Air plane (similar to type shown above) was on an air ambulance mission when fire broke out in the cockpit, forcing the pilot to put the plane down in dense brush. Two pilots, a nurse, a passenger and her infant son walked away unharmed, just moments before the aircraft exploded.

There are only a few pieces, just bits, that are left and the rest is badly burned," said Peter Hildebrand, regional manager for Canada's Transportation Safety Board. "Even the emergency landing location transmitter wasn't working... I think because of the crash."

Mike Young, of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, added the pilot had no time to attempt to return to the airport.

The crash site was described as a rugged area about 500 kilometers north of Winnipeg. Police in the area started getting reports of a fireball erupting just above the trees.

The survivors were found at 2:45 am local time and taken to a nursing station, but had suffered only a few scrapes and bruises. Young credited the occupants' quick escape from the plane for the fortunate outcome.

CTV Winnipeg reported the 10-month-old baby, who was the patient being transported, slept through the crash.

FMI: www.skynorthair.com