No serious injuries after plane crashes during takeoff in Abbotsford

A small aircraft lost control during takeoff at Abbotsford International Airport Friday afternoon, crashing into a nearby field. The Beechcraft King Air 100 was carrying 10 people — two crew and eight passengers, including small children — when it went down around noon.

Police and emergency crews were dispatched, but nobody was seriously injured.

The twin-engined turboprop aircraft can seat up to 19 passengers, depending on configuration.

Initial reports say the aircraft climbed to approximately 300 feet before losing control and crashing into a raspberry field near Walmsley Avenue and Clearbrook Road.

According to a news release, two people were transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. All other passengers and crew got out of the aircraft on their own. A snowfall warning was issued Friday for the Abbotsford area, with 20 centimetres of snow forecast, but airport general manager Parm Sidhu said it was too early to speculate if icy conditions were contributing factors in the incident.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada said two investigators have been dispatched to determine the cause of the crash.