The RCAF has confirmed the death of a member of the famed “Snowbirds” Air Demonstration Team.
Captain Jennifer Casey, a Public Relations Spokesperson for the team, was a passenger in the two-seat Tutor aircraft that went down during a take off mishap at Kamloops BC.
Casey, a former Halifax Radio journalist, had been with the team since 2018.
The RCAF has suffered another tragic loss of a dedicated member of the RCAF team. We are deeply saddened and grieve alongside Jenn’s family and friends. Our thoughts are also with the loved ones of Captain MacDougall. We hope for a swift recovery from his injuries. – Comd RCAF pic.twitter.com/UZKJa6OT3S
— CF Snowbirds (@CFSnowbirds) May 18, 2020
The RCAF also identified the pilot as Captian Richard MacDougall, 34, of Dieppe New Brunswick. Via their Twitter feed, the Snowbirds say MacDougall sustained serious, but not life-threatening injuries.
Their Tutor jet was part of a two-plane formation take off from Kamloops. Seconds after clearing the runway, their aircraft was seen to pull upward abruptly, climb for a few seconds and then fall into a stall. Observers on the ground heard two loud ‘bangs,’ believed to be the ejector seats, just before the small jet went down vertrically and crashed into a house.
There were no reported injuries on the ground.
The Snowbirds had been in the last portion of their coast-to-coast “Operation Inspiration” tour to show support for Canadians during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
(all photors RCAF Snowbirds)
