A Canadian Forces Snowbirds aircraft crashed in northern British Columbia shortly after takeoff Tuesday afternoon.
Around noon, the plane took off from North Peace Regional Airport in Fort St. John, according to a statement from the local air show society.
“Despite all the safety precautions that are taken, incidents do happen and it’s heartbreaking in the world of air shows,” a spokesperson wrote.
In a Facebook post, the City of Fort St. John said first responders were called to the airport for an “aviation incident” involving a fire. He also said no injuries were immediately reported.
CF spokesman Maj. Trevor Reid confirmed those details in an email to CTV News, saying the plane was damaged but the pilot, who was the only person on board, “suffered no physical injuries.” .
Reid added that the cause is under investigation and the pilot is undergoing further medical evaluation.
“It is too early to tell what impact this incident may have on the future performances of the Snowbirds. We are grateful for the quick response of local first responders,” he continued.
“Our thoughts are with our member at this time.”
The squadron was at Fort St. John for the city’s annual air show over the weekend with its next scheduled stop in Penticton on Wednesday.
In 2020, Snowbirds captain Jennifer Casey died when her plane crashed in Kamloops, BC. An investigation revealed that a small bird flew into the plane’s engine shortly after takeoff from Fulton Field at the city’s airport, causing it to lose power.
The pilot gave the order to eject, but the plane was at too low an altitude for Casey to deploy her parachute safely.
The Snowbirds were blocked for three months after his death.
With files from CTV News Vancouver’s Ben Miljure