The Royal Canadian Air Force has confirmed that Snowbirds Public Affairs Officer Capt. Jennifer Casey has been killed and pilot Captain Richard MacDougall is in serious condition after a CT-114 of the Snowbirds demo team crashed on May 17, 2020.
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has confirmed that Snowbirds’ Public Affairs Officer (PAO) Capt. Jennifer Casey has been killed and pilot Captain Richard MacDougall is in serious condition after a CT-114 of the Snowbirds demo team crashed on May 17, 2020.
‘It is with heavy hearts that we announce that one member of the CF Snowbirds team has died and one has sustained injuries. We can confirm that we have contacted all primary family members of those involved. More information will be communicated in the near future,’ the service said on its Facebook page.
‘Our previous statement indicated that the surviving member of the crash suffered serious injuries, we can confirm that their injuries are not considered life-threatening.
‘Today, the #RCAF has suffered another tragic loss of a dedicated member of the RCAF team and #CFSnowbirds. We grieve alongside Jenn’s family, friends, and colleagues and are deeply saddened. Our thoughts also go out to the loved ones of Captain Richard MacDougall. We hope for a swift recovery from his injuries.’
As reported, on May 17, 2020, a Canadian Armed Forces CT-114 Tutor aircraft belonging to the Snowbirds demonstration team crashed in Kamloops, BC.
After the takeoff, the aircraft climbed into the sky before rolling over and plunging to the ground.
Sunday’s crash occurred the same day the Snowbirds were scheduled to make a trip from Kamloops to Kelowna as part of Operation Inspiration, a cross-country tour aimed at boosting the morale of Canadians struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic.
This crash was the second involving one of the aircraft of the aerobatic team in less than a year (the May 17 crash in fact follows the downing of another team’s CT-114 in the US state of Georgia last October, where the team was scheduled to perform in an air show. Capt. Kevin Domon-Grenier sustained minor injuries when he was ejected from the Tutor).
Photo by Royal Canadian Air Force