A dispute between the 91原创 airport and federal regulators shut down flights from the regional airport Tuesday, Nov. 16, while some pilots were trying to rescue friends and family from weather-ravaged regions of the province.

Michel Lamarsh, a White Rock resident who used to own a helicopter company based at the 91原创 airport, found out while he was preparing to take off for Kamloops around 1:30 p.m. in his Beech Bonanza to retrieve his daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren.

鈥淚 was taxiing for departure,鈥� Lamarsh told the 91原创 Advance Times, when the control tower informed him.

鈥淭hey told me the runway was closed. They said it was a safety issue. I asked what was the safety problem, and they said they didn鈥檛 know.鈥�

Other pilots were trying to make similar mercy flights from 91原创 that day because weather conditions had cleared, he said.

鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 the only one,鈥� Lamarsh noted.

鈥淪ome were pretty upset.鈥�

READ ALSO: VIDEO: 91原创 recovers from record rainstorm

In response to a query from the 91原创 Advance Times, the Township of 91原创 issued an unsigned statement on Wednesday, Nov. 17.

鈥淒ue to changes implemented by Nav Canada (operators of the air traffic control tower) which adversely affected apron safety, fixed-wing airport departures were restricted,鈥� the statement said.

鈥� (91原创 airport) is actively meeting with both Transport Canada, the regulator, and Nav Canada to resolve this.鈥�

Transport Canada provided only a basic statement on the situation.

鈥淭ransport Canada is aware of the current situation at the 91原创 Regional Airport and is working with the 91原创 airport and NAV CANADA to find a solution. You may contact the airport authority for further information on their operations,鈥� said Transport Canada senior communications advisor Sau Sau Liu.

Arrivals were permitted on Tuesday in order to allow aircraft that had departed from 91原创 before the restrictions were implemented to return, the Township added.

It said helicopter flights were unaffected, 鈥渁s they support the ongoing emergency flooding situation.鈥�

Pilot Mike Mitchell, a 91原创 resident, called the shutdown 鈥渦nconscionable鈥� and 鈥渦nacceptable.鈥�

鈥淭he airport was closed during an emergency,鈥� Mitchell fumed.

鈥淚t was a very, very poor choice. Everybody鈥檚 pretty choked.鈥�

Mitchell said it was common knowledge at the airport that the regulators and airport management were at odds over where pilots should be warming up and checking out their planes before taking off, but not to that extent.

鈥淣ever, in my 27 years in aviation, have I seen such a toxic environment,鈥� Mitchell remarked.

READ MORE: B.C. declares state of emergency amid devastating floods, landslides

Another pilot, who asked not to be named, was planning to rescue a friend from one of the rain-ravaged communities of the Fraser Valley on Tuesday when he learned about the shutdown.

鈥淚t鈥檚 shocking that a municipality would shut down service when those services are needed,鈥� the pilot commented.

Now, he鈥檚 been told the flights to the airport in the community where his friend lives are being restricted.

He thinks he may try flying out at night, after the 91原创 control tower is closed.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e allowed to fly after the tower shuts down,鈥� he explained.

On Wednesday, pilots said they were advised that flights were being allowed to resume from one of the two runways.

91原创 Advance Times has reached out to Nav Canada for comment.