A missing person report led police to the discovery of a plane wreck on the runway of the Merritt Airport early Monday morning.
On February 10, 2020 at 12:14 a.m. RCMP received a report of a missing person. The initial investigation led a frontline officer to the Merritt Airport where he discovered the wreckage of a small white and green plane on the tarmac.
The officer located the missing man entrapped inside the single occupant aircraft and immediately called upon the Merritt Fire Department and BC Emergency Health Services for their assistance.
Emergency crews extricated the pilot, a Merritt man in his 60’s, who was rushed to hospital with serious injuries by BC Emergency Health Services. His current condition is unknown.
RCMP has notified Transportation Safety Board officials of the aviation incident.
The investigation into what factors led to this incident is in its very early stages, states Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey, Media Relations Officer for the RCMP Southeast District. RCMP will continue to support the Transportation Safety Board who is also investigating.
If you witnessed this incident and have not yet spoken to police you are asked to call the Merritt RCMP at 250-378-4262.