‘Bam’: WestJet plane clips military aircraft on ramp in Comox, B.C.

Emergency crews attended a Canadian Forces base in Comox, B.C. on Wednesday after a WestJet plane clipped a military one on the ramp.

No one was injured in what WestJet described as a “minor incident,” in which WS346 bound for Edmonton made “contact” with a parked aircraft at 19 Wing Comox while taxiing out for departure.

“All guests and crew have been safely offloaded from the aircraft. There have been no reported injuries as a result of this incident,” WestJet public relations manager Denise Kenny wrote.

Kenny provided no cause for the incident.

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The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) is aware of the incident.

In an emailed statement, the Depart of National Defence said a civilian aircraft struck an unoccupied CC-130H Hercules. That aircraft is primarily used for search and rescue operations.

“The incident is being investigated by WestJet and RCAF authorities and will also involve the Transportation Safety Board,” wrote Andrew McKelvey of the department’s media relations team.

“The extent of the damage to the Hercules is not yet known.”

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Janet Hauser, a passenger on WS346, said the plane was just about ready for takeoff when she heard a “bam” and the brakes kicked in. Two nearby flight attendants “nearly fell to the ground,” she added.

“People that were on the side of the aircraft — the other side to me — they were taking pictures and there was a piece of our wing on the ground as it tried to squeeze under another airplane that was parked there,” she explained.

“Everybody was excellent and the pilot got on eventually. … He said he had been given the thumbs up, and so proceeded to keep driving, and whoever gave that thumbs up didn’t see properly and there wasn’t enough room.”

Hauser said she is now delayed a full day in journey, which ends in Prince Albert, Sask. She’ll spend the night in Calgary, she said.

The RCAF is now working to minimize the impact on fixed-wing search and rescue operations within the Victoria region. Rotary wing search and rescue operations remain unaffected, McKelvey said.

“As the matter is being investigated by multiple flight safety agencies, it would be inappropriate to comment on the nature and extent of the damage or speculate on the cause,” he said.