‘Burst into flames’: Pilot seriously injured, fire sparked after ultralight plane crash in Surrey – BC | 24CA News
The pilot of an ultralight aircraft has been despatched to the hospital with severe accidents after a crash at an airfield in Surrey, B.C. on Friday afternoon.
Two ambulances had been known as to the aviation discipline on 152 Street south of Surrey Lake at 1:18 p.m., in accordance with BC Emergency Health Services.
Paramedics introduced a single affected person to the hospital in “serious condition.”
Witness Jeff Rochon mentioned the pilot was conducting a take a look at flight on the plane he had been engaged on.
“He managed to get it into the air, 300 or 400 feet and apparently the engine started to miss. He tried to turn back to the field and fell short to where you see the wreckage in the background,” he instructed Global News.
“Immediately, it burst into flames. He had some difficulty getting out and fire broke out, and kind of burned his legs somewhat. He was conscious and walking.”
The all-aluminum ultralight — which was badly broken — additionally caught fireplace, sparking a grass fireplace. Surrey fireplace crews flooded the scene on Friday afternoon, trying to douse the flames.
Thick smoke might be seen blowing over the sector subsequent to a small, scorched white plane.
“We’re dealing with it but as you can tell … it’s all of a sudden gotten windy this afternoon and the wind is pushing this fire away from us,” mentioned John Lehmann, deputy chief of operations for Surrey, mentioned in an interview.
“We are getting crews on all of the completely different flanks of the fireplace, to the north and to the east of it at the moment.
Rochon mentioned he and a buddy had been in a hangar on the different finish of the aviation discipline once they noticed the aircraft go down and rushed to assist.
“He got to (the pilot) quickly, got across the ditch and managed to help him walk across the ditch,” Rochon described, including that the pilot was “mad as a hornet.”
Rochon mentioned his companion introduced the pilot to a shaded space, the place he waited for paramedics.
Surrey RCMP mentioned the reason for the preliminary aircraft fireplace stays unclear.
The avenue has been closed between 72nd Avenue and 68th Avenue in each instructions.
“Police are requesting people plan ahead, avoid the area and use alternate routes. It is unknown how long the closures will remain in effect,” Surrey RCMP wrote in an emailed assertion.
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