F-18 jet crashes during practice for international airshow in Lethbridge
LETHBRIDGE, Alta. — A CF-18 pilot was in hospital with undetermined injuries after his jet crashed during a practice run at an airshow in southern Alberta on Friday.
“The pilot successfully ejected and has been recovered,” said Capt. Holly Brown from 17 Wing in Winnipeg. “His well-being is our primary concern and that’s what we’re focusing on.”
The accident at the Lethbridge county airport happened shortly after noon.
Officials from CFB Cold Lake said the pilot, who witnesses said used a parachute to eject, hit the ground hard and was dragged across the runway.
Brown said it was too early to know the pilot’s condition.
“Anytime you have an injury or go through something like that, there’s obvious injuries and there’s injuries you don’t know about until later on,” she said. “At this point we’re not saying because we don’t know.
“We just know he’s alive and we’re very thankful for that.”
The pilot’s name wasn’t released, but Brown said he is based at Bagotville, Que.
The CF-18 he was flying is a plane specifically used for airshows and only flown in that capacity, she added.
An investigation by officials from the military and the Department of Transport into what happened began as soon as fire and police officers cordoned off the area.
Police said nobody other than the pilot was injured and the site presented no further risk to the public.
Airshow president Robb Engen said the airport was closed to all incoming and outgoing flights. Event officials were to meet later Friday to determine if the show would go ahead.
The airshow is in its 19th year.
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