Saskatchewan pauses three planes used in wildfire operations after a fatal crash in the Northwest Territories involving the same aircraft model. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency says it is reviewing the three “bird dog” planes out of an abundance of caution. The decision follows a crash reported on June 24 in the N.W.T., in which a Turbo Commander 690 was providing tactical support for a water bomber when it crashed and killed three people.
According to reports, Saskatchewan’s review covers the three grounded planes, which are used to support wildfire missions. The agency indicates that the province still has four bird dog planes available for service, implying the grounding is limited to the three aircraft being inspected. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency does not describe the specific cause of the N.W.T. crash in the information provided, but it links the pause to the fact that the aircraft are the same model. The province’s actions are presented as a safety step while assessments are conducted.
