2 veterinarians from California killed in tragic plane crash in Tofino

A plane crash in Tofino last week claimed the lives of two people, identified as two veterinarians from California.

Tofino RCMP said that on July 18, 2024, at 12:48 pm, they received a report of a plane crash on a runway at the Long Beach Airport.

Police said that it appears that the small, six-seat aircraft may have suffered an engine fire during takeoff.

One person onboard was pulled from the plane and sent to hospital with serious injuries, however the two other occupant tragically died.

The two victims have been identified by friends and family as Frank Borostyankoi and Chris Biggerstaff. Both were veterinarians and were on a fishing trip in Canada.

Beach Boulevard Pet Hospital said that Borostyankoi was a “talented surgeon, great husband and father, brilliant businessman and a great friend.”

“He will truly be missed,” the clinic said on their Facebook page.

Tributes were also made for Biggerstaff, whose “love of fishing took him everywhere.”

The Tofino RCMP is working with the Transportation Safety Board and BC Coroners Service “to determine the causal factors of this incident.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Tofino RCMP at 250-670-9612.