Survivors of a harrowing plane landing emergency in Prince George, B.C., where one person died and multiple others were injured, are recounting their experiences. Jaime Pawliuk, who was on his way to work on Thursday afternoon, described the terrifying moment when the plane was heading straight at him. He attempted to maneuver his vehicle to safety, but the wing of the aircraft struck the top of his car, causing glass to shatter all around him. Pawliuk sustained minor cuts on his hands and had glass in his hair but managed to escape the incident without serious injuries.
The twin-engine Beech King Air 200 aircraft made a forced landing just before 2:30 p.m. PT on Foothills Boulevard, a busy road linking various residential areas in Prince George. While police confirmed two vehicles were involved, witnesses and images indicate that more vehicles were impacted, with Pawliuk estimating between three to five directly affected. Affected individuals had to abandon their vehicles at the scene pending the ongoing investigation.
Video footage from inside the plane revealed the presence of six passengers and two pilots onboard. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the individuals inside the aircraft. However, emergency services evaluated ten people for injuries, with two individuals transported to the hospital in stable condition and sadly, one fatality, believed to be from one of the vehicles struck by the plane.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) stated that the Transportation Safety Board has assumed control of the investigation.