Close X
Sunday, November 24, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. helicopter lands safely after being hit by lightning, Helijet says

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 25 Oct, 2023 09:52 AM
  • B.C. helicopter lands safely after being hit by lightning, Helijet says

A commercial helicopter with 14 people on board landed safely in Victoria on Tuesday after it was hit by lightning.

Rick Hill, the vice-president of Helijet, said the aircraft was at about 1,200 metres when it was hit by lightning, the two pilots on board took the chopper down to below the clouds and then landed without trouble in Victoria a few minutes later. 

Hill said such an event is very, very rare, and in his 36 years of experiences, it's only happened twice. 

He said there were no injuries, although he's sure that such an incident would certainly shake up those on board. 

Hill said there was some damage to the aircraft, including the tail rotor, but the two pilots on board did a great job in handling the rare situation. 

"I think they really did a fabulous job and relied on that training and were able to safely bring everybody to their destination," said Hill. 

Hill said staff on the ground spoke to passengers to ensure no one was hurt.

The damaged chopper is now grounded. Pilots will be debriefed and given some time to process this event, he said.

Hill said the company is working with the Transportation Safety Board to determine what happened and assess the damage to the helicopter. 

Environment Canada issued a special weather statement Tuesday covering Greater Victoria and other parts of Vancouver Island, saying between 30 and 50 millimetres of rain was expected

MORE National ARTICLES

After briefing on intel, Singh says 'clear evidence' India involved in B.C. killing

After briefing on intel, Singh says 'clear evidence' India involved in B.C. killing
Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he received an intelligence briefing about allegations that the Indian government could be behind the killing of a Sikh leader in British Columbia.  Singh says after learning more information, he can "confirm" that "clear evidence" of India's involvement exists.

After briefing on intel, Singh says 'clear evidence' India involved in B.C. killing

House Speaker Anthony Rota resigns over honouring man who fought for Nazis

House Speaker Anthony Rota resigns over honouring man who fought for Nazis
Government House leader Karina Gould said earlier Tuesday that members of Parliament had lost confidence in Rota, the Liberal MP for the northern Ontario riding of Nipissing-Timiskaming. During his resignation speech, Rota reiterated his "profound regret" for recognizing 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka, a veteran of the First Ukrainian Division, last Friday in the House of Commons. Hunka lives in his riding.

House Speaker Anthony Rota resigns over honouring man who fought for Nazis

Liberals, Tories join calls for House Speaker to resign over Nazi veteran invite

Liberals, Tories join calls for House Speaker to resign over Nazi veteran invite
House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota is facing calls to step down from across the political spectrum after he invited a man who fought for the Nazis to attend a speech by Ukraine's president, in what senior Canadian politicians are calling an international embarrassment.  Government House leader Karina Gould said Tuesday morning that she believes members of Parliament have lost confidence in Rota and he should do the "honourable thing."

Liberals, Tories join calls for House Speaker to resign over Nazi veteran invite

Helicopter crashes in central B.C., multiple people on board: RCMP

Helicopter crashes in central B.C., multiple people on board: RCMP
A helicopter has crashed in a forested area east of Prince George, B.C., with multiple people on board, RCMP say.  Cpl. Jennifer Cooper with the Prince George RCMP said Tuesday emergency crews have gathered at the site where the chopper went down near Purden Ski Hill off Highway 16. 

Helicopter crashes in central B.C., multiple people on board: RCMP

Man charged in Abbotsford stabbing

Man charged in Abbotsford stabbing
Police in Abbotsford say a 33-year-old has been charged in a stabbing earlier this month now described as "intimate partner violence." Abbotsford police say Tu Cuong Tran is facing two counts of aggravated assault after two victims were taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries on September 16th.

Man charged in Abbotsford stabbing

Some wind warnings, high streamflow advisory remain in place for B.C. coast

Some wind warnings, high streamflow advisory remain in place for B.C. coast
A handful of wind warnings and a high streamflow advisory remain in place for parts of Vancouver Island and British Columbia's central coast after the region's first major wind storm of the fall. Environment Canada has wind warnings for the central coast, northern Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii, with winds up to 110 kilometres an hour expected to ease by early Tuesday.

Some wind warnings, high streamflow advisory remain in place for B.C. coast