Snowbirds set to investigate fatal crash

The Snowbirds are investigating the death of Captain Jenn Casey.

She was killed in a crash over Kamloops, B.C on Sunday. Captain Richard MacDougall was non-fatally injured in the same incident.

In a press conference Monday, Snowbirds commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Mike French announced the effort to find out the crash’s cause.

“At this time, the precise circumstances leading up to the crash are not known. The crash site has been secured by local law enforcement and the immediate flight safety response is being co-ordinated on the ground by the team’s flight safety officers,” he explained.

Consequently, all Snowbirds flights are now suspended until a cause is found. That includes Operation: Inspiration, a series of flights meant to lift Canadians’ spirits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As their public affairs officer, Casey was involved in organizing the campaign.

“She absolutely loved this job, and it was one of the main reasons why Operation: Inspiration had been so well-received by the public,” French said.

French also revealed that a nomination was being drafted for a Chief of Defense Staff Commendation in her name. He took the opportunity to give his condolences to Casey’s family and friends.

“No words can comfort the pain that they are feeling right now.”

“Her loss is a serious blow. Not only to our team, but to the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Canadian Armed Forces as a whole.”

At the press conference, some questions were raised on the relative safety of the Snowbirds’ operations. French said security is always at the top of their minds.

“It’s absolutely our first priority… to consider the safety of the public, the safety of our personnel, and the protection of equipment and the preservation of property, in that order.”

“Yesterday’s circumstances lead to the confluence of all those worst-case scenarios, and it became our absolute worst nightmare.”

He said more information and tributes to Casey’s legacy from Snowbird members should be coming on Tuesday.