Update: Seneca College

TORONTO, Nov. 19 /CNW/ - The Seneca community is grieving the loss of two students and one flight instructor after their plane crashed during a routine flight training exercise last night.

Out of respect for the families, no names are being released.

"Senecans are dealing with a tremendous loss. Our hearts are with the families and we are coming together to support the students, faculty and staff who have lost friends and colleagues," says David Agnew, Seneca College President. "We want to thank our many colleagues in the college community and the aviation industry for the sympathy they have shown and their expressions of support at this very difficult time." 

Officials from the Transportation Safety Board are at the crash site investigating to determine the cause of the crash.

"On behalf of the aviation community at Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport I would like to express our sincere condolences to Seneca College and to the friends and family of the deceased," said Derek Sifton, President, Toronto Airways Limited. 

The College can confirm the facts as they have been reported:

Two students in Seneca's four-year flight degree program, along with their instructor, were taking part in a routine flight training exercise, when, around 7 p.m., on November 18, Pearson International Airport notified Durham Regional Police that they lost the plane on radar.

A police helicopter searched the area and located the downed Beechcraft F-33A Bonanza's wreckage in a farmer's field near Whitevale Road, south of Highway 407 in north Pickering.

A private memorial service will be held next week for the Seneca aviation community and the families of the deceased.

Some facts about Seneca College's Flight degree program:

• The Seneca College flight program is a Transport Canada approved Integrated Airline Transport Pilot training program that prepares students to be Commercial Airline Pilots. Students receive training in the class and in the field. Intensive flight and simulator training is an integral part of this rigorous degree program. Eight semesters of flight training is a required component of the program. All protocols and procedures are dictated by standards set out by Transport Canada. We ensure we not only meet, but that we exceed those requirements.
• Seneca has graduated approximately 1,100 students from its flight program
• There are 227 students in the School of Aviation and Flight Technology
• The Seneca fleet is made up of 15 aircraft: 5 Bonanzas, 2 Barons, 8 Cessnas
• The average age of the fleet: Bonanzas- 18 years, Barons - 19 years, Cessnas - 10 years
• Planes are serviced every 50 hours, as regulated by Transport Canada

For further information:

Seneca College Media Relations
416-491-5050 ext. 7018