Courtesy of CTV.ca
Canadian officials have released the names of a pilot and military photographer who died while photographing a jet formation near the Snowbird base in Saskatchewan Thursday.
Capt. Bryan Mitchell, 46, and photographer Sgt. Charles Senecal, 49, both perished when their CT-114 Tutor aircraft crashed about two kilometres northwest of Canadian Forces Base Moose Jaw.
The Tutor aircraft, which is used exclusively by the Snowbird Squadron, crashed slightly after 12:30 p.m. MT.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Capt. Mitchell and Sgt. Senecal," said Col. Paul Keddy, commander of Moose Jaw's 15 Wing base, on Friday.
Keddy said that Mitchell had been chosen to fly with the Snowbirds during their next show season, which was "truly a dream come true for him."
Keddy added that Mitchell will be remembered as an "inspiring" flight instructor and a passionate airman.
Senecal, who had been a Canadian Forces photographer for about 30 years, was a joyful man who "could be counted on," said Keddy.
"His 'joie de vivre' was contagious and made a difference in the lives of people around him."
Just before the crash, the pair had been following a formation of three other jets for a routine photo session, according to officials.
The military has launched a preliminary investigation into what caused the fatal crash, and more investigators were expected to arrive at the site Friday, Keddy said.
Meanwhile, the Snowbirds were considering whether they should cancel a weekend show in California.
Questions about aging jets
According to the Department of National Defence website, the single-engine Tutor jet is only used by the Canadian Forces Snowbird squadron.
The Tutor, first used in 1963, was retired as a training jet in 2000.
National Defence was urged four years ago to replace the jets. A study by the department's director of major service delivery warned that the jets' life expectancy was 2010.
Eight people have died in Snowbirds' crashes since 1972.
In 2004, Capt. Miles Selby, a member of the famed Snowbirds squadron, was killed in a collision with another plane.
The most recent fatal accident happened at an air show in Montana in 2007, when Capt. Shawn McCaughey was killed.
Canadian officials have released the names of a pilot and military photographer who died while photographing a jet formation near the Snowbird base in Saskatchewan Thursday.
Capt. Bryan Mitchell, 46, and photographer Sgt. Charles Senecal, 49, both perished when their CT-114 Tutor aircraft crashed about two kilometres northwest of Canadian Forces Base Moose Jaw.
The Tutor aircraft, which is used exclusively by the Snowbird Squadron, crashed slightly after 12:30 p.m. MT.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Capt. Mitchell and Sgt. Senecal," said Col. Paul Keddy, commander of Moose Jaw's 15 Wing base, on Friday.
Keddy said that Mitchell had been chosen to fly with the Snowbirds during their next show season, which was "truly a dream come true for him."
Keddy added that Mitchell will be remembered as an "inspiring" flight instructor and a passionate airman.
Senecal, who had been a Canadian Forces photographer for about 30 years, was a joyful man who "could be counted on," said Keddy.
"His 'joie de vivre' was contagious and made a difference in the lives of people around him."
Just before the crash, the pair had been following a formation of three other jets for a routine photo session, according to officials.
The military has launched a preliminary investigation into what caused the fatal crash, and more investigators were expected to arrive at the site Friday, Keddy said.
Meanwhile, the Snowbirds were considering whether they should cancel a weekend show in California.
Questions about aging jets
According to the Department of National Defence website, the single-engine Tutor jet is only used by the Canadian Forces Snowbird squadron.
The Tutor, first used in 1963, was retired as a training jet in 2000.
National Defence was urged four years ago to replace the jets. A study by the department's director of major service delivery warned that the jets' life expectancy was 2010.
Eight people have died in Snowbirds' crashes since 1972.
In 2004, Capt. Miles Selby, a member of the famed Snowbirds squadron, was killed in a collision with another plane.
The most recent fatal accident happened at an air show in Montana in 2007, when Capt. Shawn McCaughey was killed.
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