Canadian Snowbirds operation meant to uplift residents’ spirits ended in a deadly crash in British Columbia

A flight by the Canadian Forces Snowbirds over British Columbia — part of a weekslong operation aimed at uplifting Canadians’ spirits and honoring those affected by coronavirus — ended in tragedy Sunday when at least one person was killed in a crash.The operation, dubbed Operation INSPIRATION, pays tribute to both victims of the virus and those who are battling it on the front lines.The Snowbirds, much like the US Navy’s Blue Angels, often perform air shows for the public.

But Sunday’s demonstration came to an end after a Snowbirds aircraft crashed in Kamloops.A Kamloops resident told CTV network she decided to go outside to watch the aircraft right before the crash.”Just as I’m walking outside we hear this huge ‘boom’ and we come out and we just look down the street and there’s just this big, huge thing of flames and smoke,” the resident said. “It was quite emotional, quite scary. I was shaking.”Capt. Jennifer Casey, who was identified as the one deceased victim, was the team’s public affairs officer, the National Defence Canadian Armed Forces said in a news release.To the horror of those watching, it became clear that the jet was in trouble shortly after takeoff.Lt. Col. Mike French, the team’s commanding officer, said that so much went wrong within the first few seconds of flight that both pilot and passenger would have had no choice but to eject.Casey ejected, but didn’t survive, French said Monday.”Yesterday’s circumstances led to the confluence of all those worst-case scenarios and it became our absolute worst nightmare,” said French.Capt. Richard MacDougall, the pilot of the aircraft, was injured in the crash and is being treated for his injuries, the Canadian Armed Forces said.