Pilot of plane that crashed in Richmond confirmed dead
Posted October 28, 2011 9:39 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
RICHMOND (NEWS1130) – Northern Thunderbird Air has confirmed the pilot of the plane that crashed near YVR yesterday has died. Luc Fortin was from North Vancouver.
Bill Hesse with the company says he was highly experienced. “A 14,000-hour pilot who’s had been employed with us since 2007. A highly experienced guy; he has world-wide experience.
He adds the 44-year-old is being remembered fondly. “He was very respected, an easy-going fellow. He was well-liked by everyone in our company. He was just a really good guy; a real professional.”
The BC Coroners Service says Fortin was pronounced dead shortly after 9 p.m., a few hours after the crash. An autopsy is expected later today.
Hesse tells us Fortin leaves behind a wife and a young daughter.
“Two [people] remain in the ICU in critical condition,” explains Clay Adams with Vancouver Coastal Health. “We have four others who are, thankfully, stable but still in serious condition at Vancouver General.”
“Some have got burns, fractures, back injuries… those kind of things. Concussions… a myriad of things, really depending on the patients. Obviously those who are in critical condition are dealing with burns. They’re the ones we’re focusing on,” he says.
Two others were discharged in hospital overnight.
How the crash happened
Seven passengers and two crew members were in the small plane when the Northern Thunderbird Air Beach King Air 100 crashed on Russ Baker Way just after takeoff . Two people who were on the ground were also hurt.
The wreckage has been moved to a secure location for the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) to continue its investigation. The plane was bound for Kelowna late yesterday afternoon but a warning light came on in the cabin shortly after take-off. At first, it was ignored but at some point the decision was made to turn around.
It was during the plane’s return approach when something went wrong and the aircraft slammed into Russ Baker Way in front of several witnesses, some of whom jumped into the burning wreckage to pull out survivors.
“They had been given a landing clearance. Of course, we know that the aircraft fell short of the runway and crash-landed on the road,” says Bill Yearwood with the TSB.
Bill Hesse is GM of Northern Thunderbird Air tells us the pilot is very experienced and the first officer is fairly experienced. “Unfortunately, we don’t know for sure what exactly happened.”
All of the road closures associated with the crash have now been lifted. But this morning, you could still smell fuel in the air and see absorbent material scattered over the road and in the ditch, just metres short of the fence around the airport.
About Northern Thunderbird Air
It’s more commonly known as NT Air, headquartered in Prince George but run out of Vancouver. The company has been around for 40 years. It’s been doing charter flights to remote BC communities since 1971, even with a winter schedule for miners.
Northern Thunderbird has five types of twin-engine aircraft in its fleet and says it’s known for being able to do the ‘hard jobs’, adding safety is a major priority for all of its staff.
It says it strives to have zero accidents and eliminate dangerous situations.
The following is an official statement from the company:
Northern Thunderbird Air would like to confirm that an accident has occurred with one of its aircraft in the vicinity of the Vancouver International Airport. The aircraft involved is a Beechcraft King Air 100 carrying 7 passengers and 2 crew. The flight had departed Vancouver at approximately 3:40 PM on a charter flight to Kelowna, BC. Shortly after departure, the crew advised that they were returning to YVR. All passengers and crew have been transported to hospital and we are awaiting further confirmed information as to their condition.
The Transportation Safety Board and the RCMP have taken control of the accident site and will be conducting their investigations. Northern Thunderbird Air will not be commenting on the circumstances of this accident and will defer to the investigating authorities for any information around the accident itself. Our hearts go out to the passengers and crew; and their families during this difficult time.
