Capt. Jennifer Casey, a member of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds team, was identified as the person who died in the Tutor jet crash Sunday in Kamloops. 

Casey was the public affairs officer for the Snowbirds, a position she had held since 2018, and was travelling with the team on Operation Inspiration, designated as a tribute to front line workers in the COVID-19 pandemic. 

She was flying with Capt. Richard MacDougall, one of the team's co-coordinators and pilot. He was injured, but his injuries are not considered life-threatening. 

The accident was recorded by several people who watched the plane take off from the airport. 

Casey was originally from Halifax and joined the Canadian Forces in 2014 as a direct entry officer. She had a Bachelor of Arts from Dalhousie, and a bachelor of Journalism from Kings College. She spent several years as a radio reporter, anchor and producer in Halifax and Belleville, Ont. before joining the Canadian Forces. 

Previously, she had been stationed in Trenton, Ont, and also spent the 2018 season with the CF-18  Demo team, travelling North America with the NORAD jet.  

"Canadians look at the Snowbirds as a source of joy and an exhibition of the incredible feats that our people in uniform are capable of. Operation INSPIRATION was intended to lift the spirit of Canadians at this difficult time and the Snowbirds accomplished their mission. I know that all Canadians grieve this tragic loss," said Minister of Defence Harjit Singh. 

" Another tragedy has hit our Canadian Armed Forces," said Gen. Jonathan Vance, Chief of Defence Staff. "The Snowbirds’ Op INSPIRATION brought joy to Canadians across our country. Today, we come together in their time of need. To the family of Captain Jenn Casey we send our condolences, know that she was an inspiration to many and she will be missed. To Captain Richard MacDougall, we wish you a speedy recovery."

"Today, the RCAF has suffered another tragic loss of a dedicated member of the RCAF team. We grieve alongside Jenn’s family, friends and colleagues and are deeply saddened," said Lt.-Gen. Al Meinzinger, commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force. 

The Canadian Forces said in a media release Sunday night that an RCAF flight safety team will depart from Ottawa to investigate the circumstances of the accident and begin their work immediately on arrival. 

The Tutors, for the second time in the last year, have been placed on an operational pause and the Operation Inspiration has been delayed indefinitely.