Pilot rushed to hospital after plane crash west of Calgary

CALGARY- A pilot was rushed to hospital on Thursday afternoon, after a small plane went down just west of Calgary city limits.

The two-seater aircraft hit the ground near Calaway Park around 3:15 p.m.

The 39-year-old pilot was the only person on board, and emergency officials told Global News that he suffered life-threatening injuries.

So far, there is no word what led to the crash.

“He did have a flight pattern approved from the Springbank Airport,” says Bev Beanson, vice-president of Calaway Park. “We have no idea what happened. Nobody else was in any danger at all, and the accident took place in our parking lot, not anywhere inside the park.”

She added that news of the crash is distressing to everyone involved.

“I want to say that I’m deeply upset about this. This is a key contractor for us, he’s a member of the Calaway family, so we’re very concerned about him and our prayers are with him and his family right now.”

Fire crews were called to the scene, to clean up the wreckage and a fuel spill. The Transportation Safety Board is also investigating.