Witnesses recount scene after plane crash on Prince George, B.C., highway

A plane crashed onto Foothills Boulevard in Prince George, B.C., on Thursday afternoon, narrowly missing a vehicle driven by Jaime Pawliuk, a 42-year-old security guard. According to witnesses, the twin-engine turboprop charter plane, operated by Sekani Air Ltd., lost power to one of its engines and made an emergency landing on the highway, striking four vehicles and causing injuries to several individuals on the ground. The pilot, crew member, and six passengers aboard the aircraft emerged unscathed. Pawliuk described the moment the plane appeared from nowhere on the busy thoroughfare. He said he had no time to react before the aircraft collided with the car ahead of him. In a desperate attempt to avoid disaster, he swerved his vehicle into a nearby ditch, managing to steer clear of the plane's propellers. Despite the narrow escape, the plane’s wings scraped against the roof of his car, damaging it significantly. One person in the vehicle struck by the plane died from the impact, according to authorities. The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) is investigating the cause of the crash. Preliminary reports indicate the plane departed from the Sturdee gravel airstrip, located approximately 650 kilometers northwest of Prince George, en route to the city’s airport. The flight took off around 1:25 p.m. and lost engine power shortly thereafter. The TSB noted that the aircraft was a Beechcraft King Air 200, registered to Sekani Air Ltd., and had been operating in the region since October. Emergency responders arrived quickly at the scene. BC Emergency Health Services dispatched two ambulances to the crash site shortly after the emergency landing, around 2 p.m. Paramedics treated 10 individuals, including two who were transported to the hospital in stable condition. The Prince George Airport was notified of the incident and prepared to assist with the emergency landing before the plane veered toward Foothills Boulevard. Local residents, including Mike Morris, a former MLA and longtime Mountie in the area, rushed to the scene upon hearing about the crash. Morris, who lives close to the location, observed police cordoning off the road. He remarked on the pilot’s skill during the emergency maneuver, noting that all eight occupants of the aircraft managed to evacuate safely. “He did a very good job, it’s just unfortunate we had a death and other injuries,” Morris said. The crash occurred near a section of Foothills Boulevard that features two lanes for ascending traffic and one for descending. The area is known for its steep incline, which can pose challenges for drivers. Pawliuk, who was heading to a new work assignment in Mackenzie, about 160 kilometers north of Prince George, described the experience as surreal. “It’s not something that’s supposed to happen. It’s not really something that you should make sense out of,” he said. “It’s just an absolute accident that happened.” Evergold Corp., based in Toronto, confirmed that two of its employees were among the passengers on the flight. They were traveling south for a scheduled break from their work on the company’s northern B.C. mining project. The company also noted that the flight included workers from other mining firms operating in the region. As the investigation continues, officials are expected to provide further details regarding the cause of the engine failure and the circumstances leading to the emergency landing. The TSB will conduct a thorough analysis of the incident, focusing on factors such as maintenance records, weather conditions, and operational procedures. Meanwhile, the community in Prince George awaits clarity on how such an unexpected event unfolded on a routine afternoon.