Fatal helicopter crash near Montreal

The helicopter crash occurred Saturday in the Quebec town of Sainte-Brigide-d'Iberville. Emergency crews were dispatched to the area, about 50 kilometers from Montreal, shortly after 2:30 p.m. local time. Authorities said the four people aboard the aircraft, which crashed and then caught fire, died at the scene.

Audrey-Anne Bilodeau of the Quebec provincial police said an emergency call reported that a helicopter in distress may have gone down and caught fire. The crash site was located near Rang des Écossais, close to Highway 10. The fire was brought under control about an hour after the first report, officials said.

Response continued into the evening

Crews remained on the scene throughout the day. Shortly before 10 p.m. local time, officers were still carrying out inspections at the site. The identities of the victims have not yet been released, and authorities said that process could take several days.

Which agencies are investigating?

The cause of the crash is being investigated by the Major Crimes Unit within the Sûreté du Québec, the provincial police force. Scene investigators and investigators from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada are also taking part in the work. Officials said the downed aircraft appeared to be a private helicopter, but details will be confirmed during the investigation.

  • The incident was reported shortly after 2:30 p.m. local time on Saturday.
  • The crash site was identified as Sainte-Brigide-d'Iberville, about 50 kilometers from Montreal.
  • All four people aboard were reported dead at the scene.

Authorities said work is continuing to identify the victims and determine the cause of the crash. More technical findings are expected to be released gradually until the investigation is complete.