Air show goes on after pilot escapes crash of air force jet

Air show goes on after jet crash

LETHBRIDGE, Alberta — An international air show went ahead as scheduled this weekend following the fiery crash of an air force jet during a practice flight. The pilot safely ejected from the CF-18 jet moments before it crashed in a ball of flames.

Fans in the grandstand could see the charred twin tails of the jet in the wreckage surrounded by yellow tape.

“It doesn’t add to the appeal for me but it does make you more cognizant of the fact that a lot of machines are on the edge when they’re performing,” said spectator Craig Gorham, who was sitting in the front row of the bleachers on Saturday.

Gorham said the master of ceremonies for the air show reassured spectators that the pilots always keep within a fixed area in order to make sure no one on the ground is injured in the event of a mishap.

Capt. Brian Bews was practicing maneuvers Friday afternoon over Lethbridge County Airport when witnesses say the plane appeared to stall at low altitude and then plunged toward the ground, erupting in a gigantic fireball. Right before impact, Bews ejected and his parachute deployed in the nick of time.

He hit the ground hard and was dragged, but the military said Bews was recovering from his ordeal.

Despite reports late Friday claiming Bews had been released from the hospital, military spokeswoman Capt. Holly Brown said Saturday that he remained hospitalized.

“We don’t have a time or date,” Brown said, noting that she has been in communication with Bews via e-mail. “He’s in good spirits. His condition is stable and we’re hoping he’s going to be released soon.”

“He does have his friends and family with him so he’s being well taken care of.”

Investigators are working to determine the cause of the accident. The military said the CF-18 fleet will continue to operate as usual.

The CF-18 that Bews was flying is a plane specifically used for air shows and is only flown in that capacity.

Bews, who grew up in Eatonia, Saskatchewan, is a member of the 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron based at 3 Wing in Bagotville, Quebec. He was chosen to fly the demonstration jet in 2010.

Air show president Robb Engen said organizers juggled the schedule to fill the gap in the CF-18’s performance, but he said the wreckage wasn’t blocking the runway so it didn’t pose a problem for the performances.

“Thankfully Capt. Bews is OK. Our thoughts are with him and his family,” Engen said. “We’re just thankful it was in a practice run, and that’s why we have safety precautions in place. That’s why we do safety runs.”

The air show wraps up Sunday.