In brief
A private helicopter carrying four people crashed in the rural town of Sainte-Brigide-d'Iberville, about 50 km south‑west of Montreal, on Saturday afternoon. Emergency responders arrived within minutes after a distress call, finding the aircraft on fire and the occupants dead. The crash site in the valleys near Highway 10 was secured and flames extinguished by 10 p.m. local time. The Quebec provincial police and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada are leading the investigation, which may take several days to identify victims. It remains unclear what caused the fatal incident.
In a tragic incident Saturday afternoon, a private helicopter exploded into flames over the small town of Sainte-Brigide-d'Iberville, killing all four people on board. The crash occurred roughly 50 km (31 miles) from downtown Montreal, near the Rang des Écossais on Highway 10.
Local emergency services were alerted shortly after 2:30 p.m. (19:30 BST) when a distress call signaled a possible crash. Firefighters and police arrived within minutes and found the helicopter heavily damaged and on fire. The crew and passengers were declared dead at the scene, but the victims remain unidentified.
The Quebec provincial police, assisted by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, are leading the investigation. Initial reports suggest the aircraft was a private model, but the exact cause of the crash is still under scrutiny. The investigators plan to examine wreckage, debris, and flight data to determine why the helicopter crashed and caught fire.
A fire at the crash site was brought under control by 10 p.m. local time, but investigators continued to work at the scene until about midnight. The identification of the victims is expected to take several days as forensic teams process the remains.
Residents in the area are on alert, and authorities urge the public to remain calm while investigations proceed. Updates will be provided as new information emerges.
