Pilot dies after Remembrance Day flight crashes near Quebec airport
The man in his 60s was the sole occupant of the small plane that went down in Saint-Georges on Wednesday morning.
SAINT-GEORGES · A pilot died on Wednesday after his small plane crashed near the Saint-Georges airport in Quebec. The Sûreté du Québec said the man in his 60s was alone in the aircraft and was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash occurred around 11 a.m. in a wooded area close to the airport, about 100 kilometres south of Quebec City. The plane had just participated in a Remembrance Day ceremony before it went down. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada and provincial police are investigating.
What happened during the ceremony?
The pilot was part of a six-aircraft formation performing a Missing Man manoeuvre as part of the local Remembrance Day event. Saint-Georges Mayor Manon Bougie said the crash happened as the pilot was approaching the airport to land. The city stated the aircraft caught fire after the impact. "What has just happened is truly sad and terrible," Bougie said in a statement. "Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones affected by this tragedy. All our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time."
What did witnesses see and hear?
A resident, Michel Rodrigue, heard the crash near his home and saw flames. He initially thought a piece of furniture had fallen inside his house. "It turned out it was the plane crashing behind our house," Rodrigue said. He estimated the wreckage came down in the woods about 100 feet from his property. Another local, Mélanie Quirion, observed the formation flying overhead about ten minutes before the crash and said everything appeared normal. The Department of National Defence confirmed the aircraft was not military property and the pilot was not a Canadian Armed Forces member.
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How have officials reacted?
Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon posted condolences on social media after learning of the pilot's death. "I would like to express my sincere condolences to their family and loved ones," he wrote. The premier said he is in contact with Domestic Security Minister Guy Lapointe Jr. to monitor the situation. Quebec Liberal Leader Charles Milliard also offered his sympathies to the family and all those affected by the tragedy. The Canadian Armed Forces issued a statement extending its deepest condolences.
What is the status of the investigation?
The Sûreté du Québec initially reported the pilot was seriously injured before confirming his death in the early afternoon. Police remain on the scene. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has dispatched a team of investigators to examine the site and determine the cause. The board said its personnel are on their way to gather information. The reason for the crash is not yet known.
With files from The Globe and Mail, CBC News and Global News