An idea that started off as chatter between passionate hockey fans on Twitter took to the Lower Mainland skies on Wednesday, April 21.

A plane flying a banner which read #firebenning lifted off from the Pitt Meadows airport, and circled around Vancouver, as well as its surrounding areas.

The message is in reference to some fansB次元官网网址� displeasure with the way general manager Jim Benning is running the Vancouver Canucks.

Niqhil Velji, who regularly Tweets about the team, lives in Pitt Meadows.

He took video of the take-off.

And lift off

B次元官网网址� niqhil velji (@NiqhilVelji)

B次元官网网址淲e are huge Canucks fans who love the team, but weB次元官网网址檙e questioning the direction of management and ownership,B次元官网网址� he said.

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To express their concerns, a group member who goes by the Twitter handle UncleLaleet started a to pay the $1,600 it costs to fly a banner over Metro Vancouver and surrounding areas for an hour.

B次元官网网址淐anucks fans are demanding that the owners of the Vancouver Canucks fire Jim Benning and replace him with a management team that can build a Stanley Cup championship team immediately,B次元官网网址� the fundraiser said.

B次元官网网址淭he city of Vancouver has supported this team for 50 years and we are not supporting this three ring circus any longer. #FireBenning.B次元官网网址�

Support for the flying banner came quickly.

B次元官网网址淚 figured it was going to hit its quota,B次元官网网址� Velji said. B次元官网网址淏ut I thought it was going to take a day or two.

B次元官网网址淭he fact it did it within hours was pretty incredible.B次元官网网址�

Some thought the money could have been put to better use.

Money should have went to a cause that needs it.

B次元官网网址� We are all Canucks (@DelVlko)

But Velji was quick to point out every additional dollar raised B次元官网网址� after the sign was paid for B次元官网网址� was donated to Canuck Place childrenB次元官网网址檚 hospice.

B次元官网网址淥ver $1,000 has already been donated to a childrenB次元官网网址檚 charity,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd more is coming in.B次元官网网址�

The groupB次元官网网址檚 antagonism towards Jim Benning isnB次元官网网址檛 personal, Velji insisted.

B次元官网网址淚f you look at columns from NHL writers who are analysing the performance of GMs, Jim Benning is a bottom five, or worse.B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 been the Canucks GM for seven years, and they have made the playoffs two times.B次元官网网址�

While some fans of Benning argue he has done well with his draft picks in recent years, Velji noted he doesnB次元官网网址檛 think the GM will be capable of surrounding the young talent with the team mates they need to succeed.

B次元官网网址淐anucks have a great young core, but itB次元官网网址檚 about adding the necessary pieces to supplement that core, he said, B次元官网网址淎nd I know Jim Benning is not going to be able to do that.B次元官网网址�