Prince George RCMP have confirmed that an individual has passed away following an emergency landing of an aircraft on Foothills Boulevard, approximately 1.5 kilometers north of North Nechako Road.
According to the RCMP, the incident involved two motor vehicles. The RCMP stated in a release that “Police are saddened to confirm that there has been one fatality in this incident, an occupant of one of the vehicles.” The statement also mentioned that the status of potential injuries to other vehicle occupants and those onboard the plane is currently unknown.
Authorities advised the public to steer clear of the area as Foothills Boulevard has been shut down to traffic in both directions and will remain closed overnight and into the following day. The Transportation Safety Board will spearhead the investigation, as per the police.
The event unfolded around 2:30 p.m. PT on Foothills Boulevard near Highland Drive in northern Prince George, where a small aircraft made an unexpected landing on a busy roadway. Emergency services received a call around that time, with two ambulances and several paramedics responding to the scene.
Mohit Arora, who witnessed the incident while turning onto Foothills Boulevard, described the plane descending onto the road and colliding with a pickup truck. The driver of the truck sustained injuries but survived the ordeal, narrowly avoiding the aircraft’s propeller hitting his vehicle.
Images captured at the scene depict a small passenger plane with a broken propeller on the side of the road, alongside a yellow car and a pickup truck with apparent debris from the aircraft. Significant damage to the aircraft’s wings is visible.
Authorities urge individuals to avoid the area, emphasizing that the road closure will persist for an extended period due to the ongoing investigation and cleanup efforts.