Q&A: Snowbirds pilot reflects on 2 years since Kamloops crash

For Capt. Richard MacDougall, one goal is always firmly in his sights.

He intends to climb back into the pilot's seat of a CF-114 Tutor aircraft again and soar with the Canadian Forces Snowbirds.

MacDougall, originally from Dieppe, N.B., crashed while performing a flyover as part of the Operation Inspiration  demonstration in Kamloops, B.C., on May 17, 2020. The event was meant to raise the spirits of Canadians during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He and his passenger, Capt. Jenn Casey, a public affairs officer for the Snowbirds, ejected from the plane after a bird strike caused an engine compressor failure. Casey died and MacDougall suffered significant injuries after crash landing on the roof of a house.

Now MacDougall is back with the Snowbirds, and while he's not in the air yet, he travels with the aerobatics team as the show's narrator, also known as Snowbird 11, at events across the country this year.

The team was scheduled to perform in Moncton on Wednesday, but a technical issue with a tool that sets the timing for parachutes during ejection has grounded the planes.

MacDougall spoke with Vanessa Blanch of Information Morning Moncton about the crash, his recovery and the future.

The following has been edited for length and clarity

Vanessa Blanch: How are you doing now? 

Rich MacDougall: I'm doing well. I'm doing better every day. It's been two years now and the recovery trajectory has always been up. I'm just very fortunate to be in the physical condition that I am right now and to be able to join the team on the road as Snowbird 11 this year.

Vanessa Blanch: What was the extent of your injuries? 

Rich MacDougall: I broke a few vertebrae in my back. I broke bones in both feet which required a cast and a brace. I needed to stay in bed basically for two months and transition to wheelchair and to a walker and crutches. Now I barely need the cane anymore. I'm walking just about as normal as anyone else. 

Vanessa Blanch: What do you remember from that accident?

Rich MacDougall: I do remember everything after having landed on that roof. I do remember being conscious for the whole rest of that process. That's certainly an experience I will never forget. The support in Kamloops was absolutely unreal. I really can't even put into words how amazing the support was from the community. The fence line of the airport was just completely covered in signs of support.