Sunday afternoon, a Canadian Snowbirds CT-114 Tutor crashed shortly after takeoff in Kamloops, British Columbia. The Snowbirds have confirmed that two team members were involved in the crash, Captain Jenn Casey and Captain Richard MacDougall.

Captain Jenn Casey, the team’s Public Affairs Officer, was killed in Sunday’s crash. Captain Casey hails from Halifax, Nova Scotia, joining the Canadian Armed Forces in August 2014. She was a former reporter, anchor, and producer, holding a Bachelor of Arts degree, a Bachelor of Journalism degree, and a Masters of Interdisciplinary Studies degree. Casey spent the 2018 season with the Canadian Forces CF-18 Demo Team, and joined the Canadian Snowbirds in November 2018.

Snowbird 11, Captain Richard MacDougall, was piloting the jet at the time of the crash. He sustained serious but not life threatening injuries, and is being treated at a local hospital. MacDougall serves as one of two coordinators for the team, as well as part of the advance team, who arrives at a show site ahead of the rest of the jets and helps with logistics.

An RCAF Flight Safety team has departed Ottawa and is headed to the scene to investigate the circumstances of the accident. Over the last two weeks, the Snowbirds have been conducting Operation Inspiration, a cross-Canada tour with the goal of saluting COVID-19 front-line workers and lifting the spirits of all Canadians.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to both Jenn and Richard’s friends, families, and teammates during these tough times, and we wish Captain MacDougall a healthy and speedy recovery.