No fatalities

Aircraft Fire and Ditching Off Vancouver Island (CF-BYI)

Vancouver Island, CanadaLanding (descent or approach)

On January 25, 1948, a Canadian Vickers Stranraer (registration CF-BYI) operated by Queen Charlotte Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Vancouver Island, Canada during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 6 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft caught fire and sank while en route to Forward Harbour off Vancouver Island. All four occupants successfully evacuated after the engine stopped.

What happened

The incident occurred while the aircraft was en route to Forward Harbour, located off the coast of Vancouver Island. During this phase of flight, the machine caught fire and subsequently sank into the water. The event resulted in a complete stoppage of the aircraft's movement. Despite the emergency situation involving fire and immersion, all four occupants on board were able to evacuate the wreckage safely.

Findings

The source material does not provide specific technical details regarding the mechanical failure or external factors that initiated the fire. It confirms only that the aircraft caught fire, sank, and came to a halt, allowing for the successful evacuation of the crew and passengers.