Survivors of a harrowing plane landing emergency in Prince George, B.C., which resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries, are recounting their experiences. Jaime Pawliuk recollected driving to work when he suddenly spotted the aircraft hurtling towards him. “All of a sudden it was on top of me,” he recounted, describing how he attempted to veer into a ditch but was only able to move a short distance before the wing tore the roof off his vehicle, showering him with glass. Pawliuk sustained superficial cuts on his hands and had glass stuck in his hair but managed to walk away from the incident.
The emergency landing involving a Beech King Air 200 aircraft occurred just before 2:30 p.m. PT on Foothills Boulevard, a significant thoroughfare connecting various residential areas in Prince George. Following the incident, Pawliuk and others had to abandon their vehicles at the scene until investigations were completed. On the subsequent day, numerous damaged vehicles were removed from the site by flatbed trucks.
Witness Mohit Arora mentioned observing a pickup truck being struck by the plane’s wing, with the driver surviving the impact. Images shared by Arora depicted debris from the plane embedded in the truck’s windshield, a propeller lying on the road, and a yellow car in a ditch. A family member of the occupants in the yellow car informed CBC News that although the pair was uninjured, their vehicle had been forced off the road, resulting in damage to the roof from propeller blades.
The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) reported that the aircraft, with two crew members and six passengers on board, had taken off from Sturdee Airstrip and was en route to the Prince George International Airport before the engine failure necessitated the emergency landing. Despite the collision with four vehicles on Foothills Boulevard, all occupants within the contracted plane emerged unscathed. The TSB disclosed that the investigation was ongoing and highlighted the aircraft’s 1980 manufacture by Beech Aircraft Corp., presently registered to Sekani Air Ltd., a local charter flight company.
Former TSB investigator Bill Yearwood emphasized the split-second decision-making pilots must undertake during emergencies, noting the challenge of selecting the safest landing spot under duress. He expressed surprise at the aircraft’s inability to remain airborne with its functioning second engine, speculating on potential factors influencing the emergency landing decision.
While the road was reopened the following evening, traces of the ordeal lingered with skid marks visible on the pavement. The TSB indicated that the aircraft had been relocated for assessment, anticipating a prolonged process before its full removal from the scene. Those affected by the crash, including Pawliuk, expressed shock and sought solace amid the aftermath, reflecting on the gravity of the event and expressing sympathy for the deceased victim and their family.
