LYTTON, BC – On Saturday July 31st, 2010 at approximately 8:30 pm, the Lytton RCMP and other local and provincial emergency services responded to a report of a downed firefighting fixed wing aircraft owned by Conair Ltd. The plane was taking part in fire fighting efforts on a new fire on July 31, 2010 near Siwash Rd in the Lytton BC area.

“Details are limited at this time, however we can confirm that the aircraft was conducting air tanker duties with the BC Ministry of Forest and Lands Wildfire Protection Branch at a fire sight that had erupted Saturday near Lytton in the Siwash Road area. The Conair contracted aircraft was operated by a crew of two members” stated Cpl Dan Moskaluk

Witness reported seeing the plane drop from the sky and seeing it crash. As is customary in air tanker drop flights, Conair did have a second aircraft shadowing the air tanker at the time. Immediate reports from the ‘bird dog plane” pin pointed the location of the crash site for rescuers in attempts to assist, all the while being helpless to direct help any further.

“The Lytton RCMP and first response rescue crews were able to locate the crash location, however crews were not able to get to the crash site due to steep terrain and fire condition. We can confirm that the crash site had erupted into flames and was fully engulfed sparking a wildfire itself. Lytton RCMP and Paramedics were able to make to within 500 metres of the crash site however were forced t turn back due to the dangerous fire conditions.

A variety of rescue and fire response assets, RCMP, Ministry of Forests and Lands Wildfire Protection crews including Rapattack Units, local Search and Rescue and air support coordinated from the Provincial Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre are poised to battle the new blaze and attempt to reach the crash site Sunday morning. Currently we are unable to confirm the status of the two crew members”.

The Lytton RCMP are in contact with Conair Ltd to assist them and the affected families with this tragic incident in any way we can” added Cpl Dan Moskaluk

Update

RCMP along with the Transportation Safety Board and Ministry of Forests and Lands Wildfire Protection Branch are currently coordinating attending the plane crash site today.

Shortly after the plane crashed on Saturday evening, around 6:30 pm in the Jackass Mountain area, Lytton RCMP and paramedics crews made it to within 350 metres of the crash site with a BC Wildfire Protection Rapid Attack team set to drop into the site. Due to the fire condition, regrettably the crews were unable to approach the aircraft on foot nor could the Rapid Attack team drop into it. Responders were forced to retreat from the area due to the fire caused by the crash.

This Sunday August 1, responding emergency crews and Conair are formally stating that there is little hope of the two person crew surviving the crash and are treating this as a recovery effort.

Conair is completing the notification of next of kin of the two person crew involved. Officials have not released any details regarding the identity of Conair’s pilot and co-pilot at this time.

The Lytton RCMP will continue to assist the Transportation Safety Board and other agencies involved in investigating the crash while forestry personnel contend with the continued fire activity in the area.

“Our thoughts are with the affected families, it is difficult to truly express the deep sense of appreciation that all of us here in BC have, for those who dedicate their lives to the preservation of our well being, fire season after fire season” stated Clp Dan Moskaluk.

Update

On August 1, 2010, the Lytton RCMP and the BC Coroners Service attended the Conair plane crash site 18 km to the South of Lytton in the Fraser Canyon this Sunday afternoon, and have confirmed that both crew members did not survive the crash.

The Lytton RCMP will continue to assist the BC Coroners Service and the Federal Transportation Safety Board with respect to the crash of the Conair aircraft and the death of it’s two crew members.

“Rescue efforts to get to the downed plane occurred very quickly on Saturday evening, with a multitude of agencies working together in doing everything possible to reach the crash site as soon as possible. The scene first responders which included RCMP and BC Ambulance Service personnel ascended steep and treacherous terrain in an active fire area to try and reach the plane, only to have met with the realization and sense of helplessness that they could not do anything for the crew.” stated Cpl Dan Moskaluk

“Our thoughts are with the affected families and it is difficult to truly express the deep sense of appreciation that all of us here in BC have, for those who dedicate their lives to the preservation of our safety and well being, fire season after fire season.

All British Columbians convey their sincerest sympathies for their loss” added Cpl Dan Moskaluk.