One of the first on the scene of a passenger plane crash in Fond du Lac last night says it was a miracle no one died.
Raymond Sanger risked his own life to help others trapped in the wreckage of the West Wind aviation plane that went down seconds after taking off.
Raymond Sanger was soaked in aviation fuel and was tearing away wreckage with his bare hands and anything else he could find to help free three people including a young boy trapped in the 44 passenger twin engine turbo prop plane.
He is a religious man, and believes God was with him and the 25 people on board the plane.
“God does exists, if anybody wants to know yesterday he was there, he protected us,” he said.
Sanger says he initially used the light on his cell phone to find his way in the wreckage, but was told to turn it off for fear it might spark an explosion.
“Because the gas from the airplane wings was just pouring out, it was like we were under the rain, it was just everywhere.” He said.
While no one died in the crash, several people were seriously injured and had to be airlifted to hospitals in Saskatoon.
The local health centre in Fond du Lac is overwhelmed dealing with the injured.
Members of the National Transportation Safety board will arrive on site today to begin their investigation into the cause of the crash.
West Wind has posted a statement on Facebook providing a phone number for immediate family members requiring information.
They are asked to call1-866-933-7755.
The plane took off at about 6:15 and crashed less than a kilometer from the runway. Based on take-off speed and distance traveled, the plane would have been in the air for about 17 seconds.
Fuel tanks were ruptured, but luckily there was no fire or explosion.
Premier Brad Wall posted a statement on Facebook aying, “Our thoughts go out to families of those who were injured in the plane crash near Fond du Lac; relieved to hear there were no fatalities.” The premier also thanked members of the RCMP, the Royal Canadian Airforce and air ambulance crews for their efforts, saying they “helped get everyone to care and safety.”
(PHOTO: Local hero Raymond Sanger, Photo from Facebook.)