WestJet Plane Crashes Into Military Aircraft Slated to Do Fly-Past Over Esquimalt
In a shocking turn of events, a WestJet commercial plane collided with a military aircraft over the skies of Esquimalt, British Columbia, on Sunday afternoon. The military plane was slated to participate in a ceremonial fly-past for a public event when the tragic accident occurred. Authorities have begun investigating the cause of the collision, which has left the nation grappling with grief and a deep sense of loss.
### The Events Leading Up to the Tragedy
The WestJet plane, identified as flight 763 en route from Vancouver to Victoria, was on a routine 15-minute flight with 150 passengers and crew members on board. Meanwhile, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) was preparing a fly-past over Esquimalt Harbour to commemorate a naval anniversary, with a CF-18 Hornet aircraft scheduled to lead the formation.
Witnesses report that the skies were clear, with no immediate signs of turbulence or bad weather that could have caused the crash. “Everything seemed normal at first. We were all looking up to the sky, excited to see the jets,” said Sara Turner, a local resident who had gathered with her family for the fly-past. “Then, out of nowhere, we saw the WestJet plane descending at a strange angle, and suddenly there was a massive explosion.”
### The Collision
Preliminary reports suggest that the collision occurred at approximately 2:45 p.m., just as the military aircraft was entering the airspace over Esquimalt. The WestJet plane appeared to veer off course and collided mid-air with the CF-18 Hornet at an altitude of 3,500 feet. The impact resulted in a fireball visible for miles, followed by thick plumes of black smoke rising above the town.
“One minute, the jets were flying in formation, and the next, there was a loud bang, and pieces of debris started falling from the sky,” recounted Jake Willis, a retired Navy officer who was attending the ceremony. “It was like watching a nightmare unfold in slow motion. We didn’t know what to do except run for cover.”
Both aircraft broke apart immediately after impact, sending wreckage falling into the waters of Esquimalt Harbour and onto the surrounding land. Emergency services were quickly dispatched to the scene, including the Royal Canadian Navy, which has a base nearby, as well as local fire and rescue teams. The situation was chaotic, with debris scattered across a wide area and the potential for fires caused by the crash.
### Search and Rescue Efforts
Rescue teams worked swiftly to contain the situation, but the scope of the disaster posed significant challenges. The wreckage from the crash was spread out over several kilometers, and several fires had broken out in the surrounding forested areas. Emergency crews from Victoria and surrounding municipalities rushed to aid in extinguishing the flames while search and rescue operations were launched in the harbour.
Local authorities confirmed that both pilots of the military aircraft were killed in the collision. A Coast Guard vessel operating in the area was among the first to recover wreckage from the CF-18 Hornet and locate the remains of the pilots. “It was a catastrophic loss for the RCAF,” said Colonel James Warner, commanding officer at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt. “We have lost two brave souls today who were dedicated to their duty and the defense of this country.”
The fate of the passengers aboard the WestJet flight remains unclear, though rescue efforts have continued well into the night. Emergency teams were able to recover a significant portion of the plane’s fuselage from the harbour, but hopes of finding survivors have diminished with each passing hour. A WestJet spokesperson confirmed that family members of those on board have been notified, but the company declined to speculate on the cause of the crash until further investigation.
### Investigations Underway
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has launched an official investigation into the crash. A team of specialists has already been deployed to the site to begin gathering evidence, including analyzing flight data recorders, radar information, and communication logs. Early theories suggest that a miscommunication between air traffic control and the military pilots may have played a role in the collision, though authorities are urging the public to wait for the full findings.
“We are still in the very early stages of this investigation, and it is too soon to draw conclusions,” said Greg Stewart, a spokesperson for the TSB. “Our focus is on determining the cause of this tragic accident so that we can take steps to prevent anything like this from happening again.”
Some aviation experts have speculated that the proximity of the two aircraft may have been a result of an airspace conflict. Both the commercial and military planes were flying at altitudes commonly used for airliners during their final approach to Victoria International Airport. A slight miscalculation or failure to communicate exact flight paths could have led to the planes inadvertently entering each other’s airspace.
### National Reaction and Mourning
The incident has sent shockwaves across Canada, with many expressing their sorrow and grief at the loss of life. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement shortly after the news broke, offering condolences to the families of the victims and praising the efforts of the first responders. “Our hearts are with the loved ones of those who were lost in today’s tragic accident,” Trudeau said. “We thank the brave men and women who continue to work tirelessly at the scene, and we will ensure that all necessary resources are dedicated to uncovering the truth behind this disaster.”
Vigils have already been planned across the country to honour the victims, with flags at military bases and airports flying at half-mast. In Esquimalt, the community has come together to support the families affected by the crash, with local businesses and organizations offering assistance.
### A Legacy of Safety Under Question
This incident has raised questions about aviation safety in Canada, particularly regarding the coordination of civilian and military air traffic during special events. While the RCAF has a strong safety record, accidents involving fly-pasts are not unheard of. In recent years, concerns have been raised about the increasing number of civilian-military airspace interactions, particularly near major population centers.
As the nation mourns this tragic loss, there will undoubtedly be a thorough review of both WestJet’s and the military’s protocols to ensure that such a disaster never happens again. For now, the focus remains on the rescue and recovery efforts as families wait for answers about their loved ones.
Canada stands united in grief, waiting for the full story behind one of the darkest days in its aviation history.