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Plane crashes in Saskatchewan with 25 people on board, no fatalities

Saskatchewan

FOND DU LAC, Sask. – RCMP say a plane with 25 people on board has crashed in northern Saskatchewan.Police say the plane crashed shortly after taking off around 6:15 p.m. Wednesday at the Fond du Lac airport. Mounties said the aircraft went down about one kilometre from the airstrip.

Emergency first responders helped the 22 passengers and three crew members. One of the passengers is an infant. “With that many people on a plane, there are injuries,” Staff Sgt. Rob Embree said at RCMP headquarters in Regina. “Right now, that’s what we’re focusing on so basically it’s a rescue effort happening at this time.” There were no reports of fatalities.

Rick Philipenko, a spokesman for Saskatoon-based West Wind Aviation, confirmed it was one of the company’s planes that crashed, a two-engine ATR 42 turbo prop. The plane was en route to Stony Rapids on a regularly scheduled flight when it crashed. “The primary concern for us right now is making sure that the passengers and crew are looked after,” he said. A picture of the crash site posted on social media shows the damaged aircraft partly on its side in the trees with a wing jutting up in the air at a 45-degree angle as people search the plane.

The Transportation Safety Board said a team of investigators will arrive in Fond du Lac Thursday. Fond du Lac is a remote mainly Dene community located on the east side of Lake Athabasca

Aviation

China Set to Debut New J-35A Stealth Fighter at Zhuhai Airshow

China Set to Debut New J-35A Stealth Fighter at Zhuhai Airshow

Next week, China will unveil its latest stealth fighter, the J-35A, at Zhuhai Airshow. This much-anticipated debut highlights China’s ongoing ambition to strengthen its military capabilities and match U.S. air power, especially within Asia.

Scheduled for November 12-17, the airshow is expected to showcase major advancements in Chinese military aviation, including the J-35Aโ€”a new addition to Chinaโ€™s expanding lineup of fifth-generation fighter jets.

This unveiling marks a milestone for China as it becomes the second country, after the United States, to field two distinct fifth-generation stealth fighters. The J-35A is anticipated to complement china jets existing Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter, demonstrating China’s progress toward a high-tech, self-reliant defense industry.

The U.S. currently operates the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, and Chinaโ€™s J-35A will likely be a direct competitor, aligning with Beijingโ€™s aspirations for technological parity with the West.

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The airshow comes at a symbolic time, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of both the founding of the Peopleโ€™s Republic of China and the establishment of the PLA Air Force on November 11. As such, the J-35Aโ€™s debut represents not only a technical achievement but also a celebration of Chinaโ€™s growing military influence.

Reportedly, the J-35A could be the first in a series of fighters for the PLA, with potential for carrier-based operations. Its compatibility with Chinaโ€™s aircraft carriers would add considerable strength to the nationโ€™s military reach by enhancing both aerial and naval combat capabilities.

Additionally, the J-35A is seen as a future replacement for Chinaโ€™s aging J-10 and J-11 aircraft, alongside the FC-31. When deployed together with the J-20, the FC-31 will likely offer a potent combination in Chinaโ€™s air defense strategy, solidifying its status as a major player in military aviation.

Comparison of the Indian built Tejas MK1A vs South korean FA 50

China is moving steadily toward its goal of producing indigenous, high-quality military equipment that can rival U.S. and Russian platforms.

This unveiling reinforces Chinaโ€™s position in the competitive landscape of fifth-generation fighters and underlines its determination to be a leading power in both defense technology and strategic military capability.

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