Sonic Blue Airways Flight 604

Sonic Blue Airways Flight 604 was a Sonicblue Airways domestic flight from Tofino, Vancouver Island to Vancouver. The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan that made this route, registered C-GRXZ, suffered engine trouble. The pilot declared emergency and asked to divert to Port Alberni Airport on Vancouver Island but crashed into mountainous wooded area, 12 kilometres short of the airport in Port Alberni. The pilot died, but a total of five passengers survived The crash.

Aftermath

The cause of the crash was Maintenance error by Sonicblue Airways. Investigation has shown that a turbine blade snapped off in the engine in mid air, due to metal fatigue. Subsequent investigations showed that six of Sonicblue's aircraft (including the Cessna Caravan involved in the accident) were overdue their mandatory inspections.

For this maintenance failings (among others) Transport Canada suspended Sonicblue's operating license and grounded the company's fleet in January 2006.

Transport Canada announced that International Express Aircharter Ltd. was fined $125,000 for failing to maintain their aircraft properly, and their air operator certificate was later cancelled.