Just at work and people were heading outside to take a look. From what I have heard it seems like it hit the northbound lane and came to rest on the southbound lane of Russ Baker Way right before the fence then caught fire.
My wishes to all that are involved. Just when I thought this bad year of accidents might be coming to an end
Just talked to my flight crews that just returned. Said it looks like NT air and they crashed about 300 yards from the Million air ramp (basicly the thresh hold of 26L) and just left of centerline. Sounds like it's inside the airport fence and just missed Helijet.
Says it looks bad and says it's doubtful anyone made it.
"Steve called News1130 says he was one of the first on scene and broke open the door to the plane. "We pulled 6 out of the 7 passengers out. The fire department showed up, they're working on getting the pilot out now."
6 of 7 souls have been transported to hospital and they are currently working to extract the 7th soul. News chopper photos appear to be the fire fighters working near the cockpit.
The news just reported that BC Ambulance has confirmed they transported 5 people in critical condition to VGH and 4 people with minor injuries to Richmond hospital.
Don't know if they are all passengers or not - but it sounds like bystanders were jumping into the burning plane to pull people out. Would not be surprised if they got some minor injuries.
On a personal note, I flew over the top of YVR less than half an hour before the crash. Just prior to then, over the Burrard Inlet, I heard the accident aircraft talking to Vancouver Terminal. My passenger and I discussed its call-sign ("Thunderbird..." something), wondering if a flight of US Airforce airshow fighters were in the area.
It was a beautiful afternoon, and the air was smooth.
Is it just me, or is there something not right about the left engine and the completely sheared prop shaft. Just nothing there. The other prop was developing a fair bit of power at impact, so if this was an engine out, why is the entire prop missing from the left side, which you'd assume was feathered in a single engine approach?
Anyways, happy to hear it wasn't worse.
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"McBratney also said the plane took out a light standard and part of a concrete median, losing its propeller along the way".
Ok, thanks for the explanation.
Full credit to the rescue crews and the public who assisted. Whatever adjective you use to describe the pictures, it shows the difficult circumstances these great folks faced in dealing with this event. I'm sure there are people alive because of them.
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Eyewitness on the news tonight - who apparently works at the airport - said he was watching it land when it suddenly knife edged to the left.
By the calm nature of the crew in ATC calls and lack of an emergency decleration - I would assume that whatever happened - happened suddenly. With the very low altitude, they had little chance to recover. The above statement fronm an eyewitness would seem to suppport that theory.
Quote from the Vancouver Sun "“Directly ahead of me in the sky I saw the plane bank really hard to its left, and then immediately to its right, as if it were out of control,” he said"
Does anyone know if they were following an aircraft into YVR, if so how far behind? They seemed calm, it sounded like they had what ever they were dealing with under control.
