BC STORIES
Road Closure in Prince George Following Fatal Emergency Plane Landing
One person is dead and Foothills Boulevard in Prince George is closed after a plane made an emergency landing and collided with vehicles Thursday afternoon.
Fatal Emergency Landing Causes Collision
One person has died after a twin-engine plane executed an emergency landing on Foothills Boulevard in Prince George on Thursday afternoon. The incident occurred shortly before 2:30 p.m. roughly 1.5 kilometres north of North Nechako Road, near Highland Drive.
During the landing amidst busy afternoon traffic, the aircraft struck two vehicles. Other motorists attempted to dodge the incoming plane, with one vehicle ending up forced into a ditch. Debris from the crash, including the front fan of a turbofan engine, was scattered across the road, and part of a wing penetrated the windshield of a truck.
Investigation and Road Closures
Foothills Boulevard has been shut down in both directions between Highland Drive and North Nechako Road. Prince George RCMP Cpl. Jennifer Cooper stated that the thoroughfare will remain closed overnight and into Friday, prompting authorities to request that motorists utilize alternate routes.
The RCMP emphasized that members of the public must stay away from the site. Cpl. Cooper noted that curious onlookers have been creating a drain on valuable police resources, forcing officers to guard access points rather than assisting with the active investigation or responding to regular calls for service.
The Transportation Safety Board has taken over the investigation into the cause of the incident. RCMP noted that potential injuries to occupants of the struck vehicles or individuals on the aircraft remain unknown at this time.
Aircraft Details and Local Impact
The aircraft involved appears to be a 1980s Beechcraft King Air 200 registered under Sekani Air Ltd. A video shared on social media, recorded inside the aircraft prior to the crash, indicated that about eight individuals were onboard.
Nearby residents reported hearing the plane overhead immediately before the crash. Emergency responders, including Prince George Fire Rescue, arrived on scene shortly after 2:30 p.m. to manage the response.