Police say two dead, one hurt in plane crash and fire at Tofino, B.C., airport

TOFINO, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA — RCMP say two people are dead and a third person has been seriously injured in the crash of a small aircraft at the Long Beach Airport in Tofino on Vancouver Island.

Tofino RCMP say they were called to the scene at 12:48 p.m. and information is limited but it appears the six-seat aircraft may have suffered an engine fire during takeoff.

Police say in a news release the injured person was pulled from the plane after it crashed on the runway and has been taken to hospital.

The other two occupants died at the scene.

A video of the crash scene posted to social media by Tofino resident Chris Bedford shows a thick column of black smoke rising from the grounds of the airport.

Bedford says his wife was waiting for a flight when she took the video after the crash.

Tofino RCMP say that officers are working with the Transportation Safety Board and the BC Coroners Service to determine the cause of Thursday’s crash.

Anyone with any information about the crash has been asked to contact Tofino RCMP.

The airport is situated next to Long Beach, surrounded by the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2024.

The Canadian Press