Defence Minister, Harjit Sajjan, himself a veteran, was in Kamloops today where he made a stop at a growing memorial for Captain Jennifer Casey by the airport.
He was accompanied by members of the Snowbirds and other military personnel as they paid their respects to Captain Casey, who died in Sunday’s crash just before noon in the Brocklehurst neighbourhood.
“The Snowbirds have been a source of pride and inspiration for many Canadian generations,” Sajjan wrote on twitter. “Through Operation Inspiration, they sought to bring us comfort in dark times, and now it is our turn to support them through difficult days.”
The Liberal MP for Vancouver-South also met with Mayor Ken Christian and Conservative Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod at City Hall.
“To thank them for their support for our CAF family and our Snowbirds at this…difficult time,” he added.
The Minister was also expected to have a private visit with Captain Richard MacDougall, the pilot of the plane, who survived the crash and was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
A ceremony meant to honour Captain Casey, and show support for the recovery of Captain MacDougall and the Snowbirds will be held at Kamloops Airport on Thursday morning.
Some wreckage cleared away
Meanwhile, at least some of the wreckage of the Snowbirds plane was cleared away from the crash site – near the intersection of Glenview Avenue and Schreiner Street – today.
Crews were seen hauling some of the debris under a blue tarp just after 3:30 pm. It will be taken to a site at Kamloops Airport for now. NL’s Curt Appleby reports that crews were also removing mangled parts from the impact crater, which is said to be at least three feet deep.
Some of the wreckage still remains at the crash site, and the area cordoned off by police tape. Neighbours who live with the area that has been cordoned off say they are “pretty much on lockdown” while the investigation continues.
A few people who live in the neighborhood of the crash site tell NL News that they are still coming to terms with what happened on Sunday.
Officials say investigators will remain in Kamloops as long as they need to be. The Snowbirds fleet is also grounded in Kamloops for now, and the Operation Inspiration tour has been put on an operational pause.
– With files from Curt Appleby
Wreckage being taken away from the #CFSnowbirds crashsite on Glenview Ave. #Kamloops @RadioNLNews pic.twitter.com/XQQLiAl5GL
— Curt Appleby (@CApps32) May 19, 2020
Work being done to remove what looks like part of the aircraft from the #CFSnowbirds plane in #Kamloops @RadioNLNews pic.twitter.com/FvV9WwN1bW
— Curt Appleby (@CApps32) May 19, 2020
Crews removing mangled parts from the impact crater, said to be at least 3 feet deep #CFSnowbirds #Kamloops @RadioNLNews pic.twitter.com/XPOGiMafOK
— Curt Appleby (@CApps32) May 19, 2020
The Snowbirds have been a source of pride and inspiration for many Canadian generations. Through #OpINSPIRATION, they sought to bring us comfort in dark times, and now it is our turn to support them through difficult days. We’re with you, @CFSnowbirds. #CanadaStrong pic.twitter.com/0yYp6SgAQC
— Harjit Sajjan (@HarjitSajjan) May 19, 2020
One of many generous neighbours bringing refreshments for soldiers guarding the #CFSnowbirds crash site #Kamloops pic.twitter.com/YgYxSy30IN
— Curt Appleby (@CApps32) May 19, 2020
And footage from the scene of the @CFSnowbirds wreckage on Glenview Avenue. A neighbour who lives within the yellow police tape says they are “pretty much on lockdown” while the investigation continues. More to come. @RadioNLNews. #Kamloops pic.twitter.com/wEpedSAAPu
— Colton Davies (@ColtonDavies_) May 19, 2020
Along with the Commander of the @RCAF_ARC, I met with the Mayor of Kamloops, Ken Christian and MP @Cathy_McLeod, to thank them for their support for our CAF family and our @CFSnowbirds at this third difficult time. pic.twitter.com/YbZSPfdJbT
— Harjit Sajjan (@HarjitSajjan) May 19, 2020
