Four people died when a private helicopter crashed and caught fire near Sainte-Brigide-d’Iberville, about 50 kilometres from Montreal, Quebec’s provincial police have confirmed.
Emergency services responded shortly after 14:30 local time on Saturday. When they arrived near Rang des Écossais road off Highway 10, they found the aircraft on fire. All four occupants were declared dead at the scene, Sergeant Audrey-Anne Bilodeau of the Sûreté du Québec told the BBC.
The victims have not yet been identified. Bilodeau said the identification process could take several days. The helicopter appeared to be privately owned, though further details about the aircraft and those on board have not been released.
Police received an emergency call reporting a helicopter in distress, possibly crashed and burning. Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control roughly an hour after the initial call. However, officers and investigators remained at the site late into the evening, working just before 22:00 local time.
The Major Crime Unit of the Sûreté du Québec is leading the investigation with support from crime scene technicians and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. The cause of the crash has not been disclosed.
The crash adds to a series of fatal helicopter accidents in Canada in recent years, though officials have not linked this incident to previous ones. Helicopters are often used for private travel, medical evacuation, and other services, but they carry inherent risks, especially when flying near populated areas or in difficult weather.
This tragedy near Montreal closes another chapter in Canadian aviation safety challenges. The investigation’s findings will be closely watched, but for now the identities of the victims and the circumstances behind the crash remain under careful examination.
According to Joy Online.
