News
Canadian fighter jet crashes in Cold Lake, Alta.
Nov. 18, 2010, Cold Lake, Alta. - A Canadian Forces pilot is in good condition after ejecting from his CF-18 fighter jet before it crashed in darkness during final approach to a northern Alberta air base.
November 18, 2010 By The Canadian Press
A military spokesman says Capt. Darren Blakie was at the controls when his plane went down in a field about 13 kilometres northwest of Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake a few minutes before midnight
Wednesday.
Lt. David Lavellee says Blakie successfully ejected from twin-engine plane and was recovered close to the crash site by a military helicopter crew about two hours later.
Blakie — a member of the 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron at Cold Lake — was taken to hospital and was expected to be released following an examination.
Capt. Nicole Meszaros, a spokeswoman for CFB Cold Lake, says Blakie was participating in a night training exercise at the time of the crash.
A flight safety team from National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa will examine the wreckage and search for the cause of the crash.
