Four people died Saturday afternoon when a private helicopter crashed and caught fire in a field in Sainte-Brigide-d’Iberville, Quebec, roughly 50 kilometers southeast of Montreal, according to provincial police. Emergency services arrived at the scene near the Rang des Écossais road off Highway 10 shortly after 14:30 local time to find the aircraft engulfed in flames, Sûreté du Québec spokesperson Audrey-Anne Bilodeau told the BBC.
Investigation Underway Into Montreal-Area Crash
The occupants of the aircraft were pronounced dead at the scene, and officials stated that identifying the victims could take several days. Early information indicates the helicopter encountered difficulties shortly after takeoff and crashed not far from its departure point, Sûreté du Québec spokesperson Brigitte Dorsainville told CBC News. Firefighters brought the blaze under control within an hour, though crews remained at the crash site late into the evening.
The Major Crime Unit of the Sûreté du Québec has taken over the investigation, working alongside crime scene technicians and investigators from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, which deployed a team to the site. Transport Canada will also appoint a minister’s observer to monitor the response alongside the safety board and provide updates to the federal transport minister, according to statements reported by CBC News.
Official Responses and Federal Oversight
Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon addressed the incident on social media, expressing condolences to those affected and emphasizing that the safety of civil aviation operations remains a top priority for Transport Canada. The federal government is monitoring the situation to provide necessary support while the Sûreté du Québec leads the ongoing probe into the cause of the disaster.
