Advertisement

Airline grounded after plane skids off Abbotsford runway during snowstorm

A small plane crash at the Abbotsford International Airport on Feb. 23, 2018. Global News

Transport Canada has grounded the airline whose plane skidded off a runway in Abbotsford during last week’s snowstorm.

The small King Air twin-engine aircraft, operated by Island Express Air, was carrying 10 people when the incident happened on Friday.

Paramedics were called to the scene and transported eight patients to hospital in stable condition.

Transport Canada has now suspended the airline’s Operator Certificate “in the interest of public safety,” and because of the airline’s contraventions of the Canadian Aviation Regulations.

Breaking news from Canada and around the world sent to your email, as it happens.

WATCH: Heavy snowfall creates traffic chaos across Metro Vancouver suburbs.

Click to play video: 'Heavy snowfall creates traffic chaos across Metro Vancouver suburbs.'
Heavy snowfall creates traffic chaos across Metro Vancouver suburbs.

It remains unclear precisely how the airline contravened those regulations.

Story continues below advertisement

Transport Canada said Island Express Air will not be allowed to resume commercial air service “until it proves it can keep its operations consistently compliant with aviation safety regulations.”

The incident remains under investigation by the Transportation Safety Board (TSB).

Environment Canada said the Abbotsford International Airport saw 25 centimetres of snowfall during Friday’s storm.

Sponsored content

AdChoices