Prince George and Aldergrove, B.C., men victims of fatal float plane crash
CBC News | Posted: August 2, 2018 8:09 PM | Last Updated: August 2, 2018
Body of 2nd man recovered from Tyaughton Lake on Thursday
RCMP say a 20-year-old man from Prince George and a 29-year-old man from Aldergrove are dead after a small float plane plunged into Tyaughton Lake, 100 kilometres west of Lillooet.
Police say searchers were notified of the crash at around 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
The Prince George man was confirmed dead on Wednesday and an RCMP dive team recovered the body of a 29-year-old Aldergrove man from the lake in Gold Bridge on Thursday.
Pilot's family thanks rescuers
The pilot of the plane, now identified as 20-year-old Spencer Neufeld from Williams Lake, escaped the wreckage and was pulled from the water by nearby witnesses.
He was taken to Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops and is recovering after surgery, according to a statement released by his family.
"Spencer would like to thank the people who came to his rescue and saved his life after the accident, as well as the staff at Royal Inland Hospital for his continuing care," the statement said.
"Our thoughts especially go out to the families of the other people on the plane. We ask now that the media and public respect the need for the privacy that will help all of us heal."
2 pilots on board
The plane involved belonged to Fort Langley Air, a charter and pilot training company.
President and owner Scott McIntosh said there were two pilots on board the plane and that it was not a chartered passenger flight.
"Our priority today is just to be there for the families that have been impacted by this tragedy," he said.
McIntosh said his company is co-operating with the Transportation Safety Board investigation into the cause of the crash.
Eyewitnesses told police the plane crashed into the lake shortly after takeoff and several people attempted to rescue the men from the water.
The lake remained closed to the public Thursday.