World

Canadian Forces F-18 Hornet fighter jet crashes in Alberta

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-07-24 14:44

Pilot Capt. Brian Bews parachutes to safety as his a CF-18 fighter jet plummets to the ground during a practice flight at the Lethbridge County Airport on Friday, July 23, 2010 for the weekend airshow in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.[Xinhua/Agencies]

 

VANCOUVER - A Canadian Forces F-18 Hornet fighter jet crashed Friday afternoon during a practice session for an air show in the western province of Alberta.

A spokeswoman for the Canadian Forces said the pilot "successfully ejected" before the crash which took place at about 12:15 pm local time at the Lethbridge county airport in the southwest part of the province.

"At this point, as far as we know, there are no other injuries," said Captain Kendrah Allison of the Canadian Forces in Ottawa. "It was during a practice session for the Alberta International Airshow."

Captain Brian Bews, a demonstration pilot for that particular aircraft, was reportedly flying low-level maneuvers when the plane crashed and burned on the runway in Lethbridge, a city 215 kilometers south of Calgary. Witnesses said he pulled his parachute and ejected about 30 meters from ground before the jet crashed.

He was taken to a local hospital with undetermined injuries.

"I know that the pilot has been recovered and I don't know the status of his medical condition, but obviously his well being is our primary concern so we are taking care of whatever injuries he has," Allison said.