Four killed in helicopter crash southeast of Montreal

Four people died when a helicopter crashed near Sainte-Brigide-d’Iberville, Quebec, on Saturday, September 26. Provincial police said all four occupants were pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators have yet to establish what caused the crash, leaving a central question about the flight unanswered.

Emergency services were called shortly after 2:30 p.m. local time to the Rang des Écossais area near Highway 10, about 50 kilometres southeast of Montreal, according to reports by BBC News and CityNews Montreal. The helicopter caught fire, and responders brought the blaze under control within about an hour.

Victims not yet identified

Sergeant Audrey-Anne Bilodeau of the Sûreté du Québec told the BBC that the victims had not yet been identified. She said the identification process could take a few days. CityNews also reported that their identities were unavailable when it published its account of the crash.

Bilodeau said the aircraft appeared to be a private helicopter. That preliminary description does not establish who owned it or who was aboard. Police have not released the occupants’ names in the reports reviewed.

Crash under investigation

The Sûreté du Québec’s Major Crimes Unit is investigating the circumstances of the crash. The BBC reported that investigators from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada were working alongside provincial police and crime scene technicians. CityNews reported that the federal board was expected to send investigators to the site.

Global News reported that police could not say whether the fire started while the helicopter was in the air or after it crashed. The available accounts do not establish the cause of the crash. CityNews reported that Transport Canada planned to appoint an observer to oversee the investigation.