Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

By Jill Sperling

SNOWBIRDS

Snowbirds fleet to remain grounded while RCAF investigates crash

May 20, 2020 | 5:20 PM

KAMLOOPS — It’s been a sombre few days at the Kamloops Airport as staff support investigators looking into the Snowbirds crash that killed Capt. Jennifer Casey and injured Capt. Richard MacDougall.

“You can see around here, it’s pretty quiet,” said Managing Director Ed Ratuski. “The staff members and the people that we do have on-site are pretty quiet and reflecting on the incident.”

Emergency crews from the Kamloops Airport responded to the crash site on Glenview Avenue on Sunday to assist Kamloops Fire Rescue. The Airport is now providing space for the Directorate of Flight Safety team to meet throughout its investigation.

“Providing facilities, inspecting the airfield with them and just providing whatever support we can in terms of the aircraft wreckage removal from the site,” Ratuski said. “Our teams were out there all day yesterday removing the site and bringing it back to the airport.”

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Lt. Alexandra Hejduk, a public affairs officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force out of Comox, says investigators have been collecting evidence from the crash site and interviewing witnesses.

“Each investigation of this type of incident is taken independently, objectively, it’s taken slowly, professionally so that way we can ensure we can find out what that issue was and try to get to the bottom of it and ensure there are processes set in the future to keep it from happening again,” she said.

Until the cause of the crash is determined, the Canadian Forces Snowbirds fleet is grounded.

Hejduk adds a plan is being developed to move the Snowbirds team back to Moose Jaw.

“The team is grieving, and understandably they have asked for privacy, I absolutely respect that, I have one person with whom I communicate,” Hejduk said. “This is actually a really nice segue for me to go into the support that the community has been giving to the Snowbirds. It’s been incredibly wonderful to ourselves here on the site working.”

Hejduk says she’s been touched by the memorial that is growing along the airport fence and the drum circle that took place on Monday.

In addition, residents of the Brocklehurst neighbourhood have been providing refreshments to members on scene.

“Every time I see these beautiful little moments, from the memorial to these wonderful acts of kindness I share that with my point contact at the Snowbirds team so he’s able to share it with the team,” she said. “So, they are aware of the love and the support that the community of Kamloops is giving to them, and it is much appreciated.”

As the tributes pour in for Capt. Casey and Capt. MacDougall, the Royal Canadian Legion has planned a ceremony at the Kamloops Airport Roundabout for Thursday morning.

Due to health and safety concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic, the Legion is discouraging the public from gathering for the ceremony. Instead, people are encouraged to watch the livestream on the Legion’s Facebook page at 11 a.m.