In brief
A private helicopter burst into flames near Sainte‑Brigide‑d’Iberville, about 50 km north of Montreal, killing all four aboard. Police and investigators from the Quebec Sûreté and the Transportation Safety Board are on the scene, while the cause remains unknown. Firefighters fought a blaze that was under control just before midnight local time, but the wreckage still stands. Victim identifications will take several days and authorities urge witnesses to come forward.
Four people died after a private helicopter crashed and caught fire near the small town of Sainte‑Brigide‑d’Iberville, roughly 50 km (31 miles) north of Montreal.
The emergency call was received shortly after 14:30 local time (19:30 BST) on Saturday. Firefighters reached the wreckage and found the aircraft on fire, ruling all occupants dead at the scene.
Sergeant Audrey‑Anne Bilodeau of the Sûreté du Québec said the helicopter was a private model, but the victims’ identities are still unknown. A 500‑person investigation team, including technicians from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, is examining the site near the Rang des Écossais road off Highway 10.
“We are working to determine why the aircraft went down and who was aboard,” Bilodeau told reporters. “Identifications may take a few days.”
Witnesses are encouraged to contact authorities with any information and to share any footage or contact details via the PulseWire community fact‑checking channel. The landing area was cleared of debris by about 22:00 local time (03:00 GMT), but the crash site remains heavily damaged and under investigation.
For a live map of the crash site, visit Google Maps.
Crowdsourced fact‑checking underway. Updates posted as new details emerge.
