Canadian Forces 'Snowbirds' jet crashes during demonstration flight; UPDATE: One dead, one seriously injured

Greg P. | 3:57 PM on May 17, 2020

UPDATE 7:56 pm.

Awful:

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. More information will be communicated in the near future.

— CF Snowbirds (@CFSnowbirds) May 17, 2020

ORIGINAL POST.

A Canadian Forces “Snowbirds” jet has crashed in Kamloops, British Columbia during a demonstration flight to boost the country’s morale much like what’s going on here in the U.S. with the Navy’s Blue Angels and Air Force’s Thunderbirds:

#BREAKING One of the @CFSnowbirds just crashed into the Brocklehurst neighbourhood of #Kamloops. Pilot ejected safely – no word on casualties on the ground. I’m en route.

— Brett Mineer (@MineerBrett) May 17, 2020

There is video of the crash that shows the pilot ejecting (hopefully, safely, as reported above):

Witness video of crash sequence. #BREAKING #Kamloops @RadioNLNews pic.twitter.com/gP3xH5uKOQ

— Brett Mineer (@MineerBrett) May 17, 2020

But it’s not clear yet if the pilot is okay or not. Prayers up:

“I heard these two huge bangs and all of a sudden up in the sky there was a dark black circle of smoke,” said Kerri Turatus.

A witness says she rushed to this home where a @CFSnowbirds plane crashed in #Kamloops.

No official word on the condition of the pilot. pic.twitter.com/igJOCZvDmk

— Alanna Kelly (@CTVNewsAlanna) May 17, 2020