Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Three killed in small plane crash near Chilliwack, B.C., airport

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 06 Oct, 2023 06:19 PM
  • Three killed in small plane crash near Chilliwack, B.C., airport

Three people have been killed in a small plane crash in Chilliwack, B.C.

Abhay Gadru and Yash Ramugade from Mumbai were in the Piper PA-34 Seneca, which crashed near the local airport in Chilliwack. 

RCMP say in a statement they received a report that a plane had gone down at about 2 p.m. on Friday, not far from the airport in Chilliwack, about 100 kilometres east of Vancouver. 

"Police, fire and BC Emergency Health Services responded. Sadly, three people on board are confirmed to be deceased," the statement said.

The Transportation Safety Board said Friday it is sending a team of investigators to the site in the Fraser Valley to investigate the crash of the Piper PA34. 

The coroner is also investigating the crash, police said. 

Haylie Morris was at work sitting in a forklift when she saw the plane pass right in front of her.

She said she knew immediately it was much too close to the ground. 

"I jumped off the forklift and started running and I saw it go into the forest across the street, crash through the trees, and then the trees blocked me from seeing it hit the hotel, but when I ran over, I saw that it had hit the side of the hotel, or at least just in front of it."

The plane came down behind the Chilliwack Motor Inn, just south of the airport, she said. 

Morris didn't have her cellphone and said she began yelling for someone to call 911, then she ran toward the crash. 

"I was running in that direction, but the trees are just filled with blackberries, so there was a very thick layer of blackberries that we couldn't get past," Morris said.

The registration number on the plane's tail, seen in local media photos, indicates the aircraft is owned by SkyQuest Aviation, a flight school based in Langley.

SkyQuest Aviation said in an email statement that it was looking into the crash, but had no comment at this time. 

BC Emergency Health Services says five ambulances were sent to the scene and two air ambulance helicopters were deployed but turned back. No patients were taken to hospital.

Morris said she watched first responders head to the crash site in the wrong direction before she and a co-worker pointed them the right way. 

There is a lot of aircraft activity in the area because it's so close to the Chilliwack airport, she said. 

Morris said she was shaken by what she saw. 

"I don't think I've ran that fast or had my heart beating that fast in a while."

 

MORE National ARTICLES

West Kelowna evacuations triple, as City of Kelowna declares wildfire emergency

West Kelowna evacuations triple, as City of Kelowna declares wildfire emergency
The "very active and unpredictable" McDougall Creek wildfire has grown more than six times during a frightening night, destroying homes and putting more than 2,400 West Kelowna properties under evacuation order, up from about 800 Thursday afternoon.  

West Kelowna evacuations triple, as City of Kelowna declares wildfire emergency

BC Ferries suspends sailings of Coastal Renaissance ferry

BC Ferries suspends sailings of Coastal Renaissance ferry
B-C Ferries says it has suspending sailings of the Coastal Renaissance due to a mechanical problem. The move affects trips between Tsawwassen in Metro Vancouver and Duke Point in Nanaimo.

BC Ferries suspends sailings of Coastal Renaissance ferry

Unprovoked attack in East Vancouver

Unprovoked attack in East Vancouver
A passerby found the injured victim and called 9-1-1. The man, who lives nearby, was taken to hospital with head injuries. He is expected to survive.  

Unprovoked attack in East Vancouver

West Kelowna declares state of emergency over encroaching wildfire

West Kelowna declares state of emergency over encroaching wildfire
Central Okanagan Emergency Operations has also placed 68 properties on evacuation order and another 5,700 properties on alert due to the nearby McDougall Creek wildfire, which grew to three square kilometres in a matter of hours after it started on Wednesday. 

West Kelowna declares state of emergency over encroaching wildfire

WestJet, Air Canada adjust prices and schedules amid Yellowknife evacuation efforts

WestJet, Air Canada adjust prices and schedules amid Yellowknife evacuation efforts
Airlines are adjusting prices and adding capacity to help with evacuation efforts in Yellowknife. WestJet and Air Canada both said they are taking steps to avoid elevated prices, adding extra flights and swapping in bigger planes amid the rapidly unfolding situation up north.

WestJet, Air Canada adjust prices and schedules amid Yellowknife evacuation efforts

Justice minister says Canada remains 'open' to criminalizing coercive control

Justice minister says Canada remains 'open' to criminalizing coercive control
The recent letter from Arif Virani to Ontario's chief coroner outlined the Liberal government's response to a series of recommendations that came from an inquest into the 2015 slayings of three women in the rural Renfrew County area, about 180 kilometres west of Ottawa.

Justice minister says Canada remains 'open' to criminalizing coercive control