Snowbirds grounded following accident in Fort St. John

The Royal Canadian Air Force has ordered an"operational pause" for its Snowbird air demonstration squadron jets after a crash earlier this month.

A statement from Maj.-Gen. Iain Huddleston, commander of 1Canadian Air Division, says the CT-114 Tutor jets will not fly untilan airworthiness risk assessment can be completed.

The decision to ground the planes comes after a crash of one ofthe jets on Aug.2 at the airport in Fort St. John, B.C.

No one was hurt when the pilot made a hard landing, and the AirForce says the cause of the accident remains under investigation.

The Air Force statement says a deliberate, detailed and broadrisk analysis will be done with the aim of ensuring the safe resumption of the squadron's flying operations.

It says the assessment will include whether the accident and itscause pose any risk to continued flying operations and what measurescan be put in place to lower any risks.

"Given that the cause of this accident remains to be determinedby the airworthiness investigative authority, I have ordered anoperational pause on the CT-114 Tutor fleet as we continue theinvestigation and commence a thorough operational airworthiness riskassessment process," Huddleston said in the statement Wednesday.

The nearly 60-year-old Tutor jets are scheduled to be used by theSnowbirds until 2030.