Canada

The team had done their flyby yesterday, and today they were departing for Vancouver Island (which is why there were two people aboard the aircraft...the pilot and the technician assigned to the aircraft).

Unlike the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds, this team doesn't have additional support aircraft and equipment that travels with them - everything is carried in these planes, including maintenance equipment and parts and the maintenance personnel when going from one place to another. The pilots fly solo during the demonstration flights, then they load up everything and head to the next location.

Another station just interviewed a retired Snowbirds pilot. He said he had seen the videos (there are several) and everything about the takeoff appeared to be normal operations. It's unclear as of yet what the malfunction was - the main possibilities appear to be control problems or engine flameout. In a flameout on takeoff situation the pilot would most likely try to gain as much altitude as possible to give them some additional time to attempt a restart.

Very sad situation.