LONGUEUIL, Que. — A somber scene unfolded on the South Shore of Montreal on Saturday afternoon after a helicopter crashed in a wooded area, leaving all four people on board dead.
Emergency services were alerted to the crash site near the Boucherville Islands, situated along the St. Lawrence River, shortly after 2:00 p.m. local time. Residents in the area reported hearing a loud, unusual noise followed by silence, prompting a flurry of calls to 911.
Firefighters, police, and paramedics arrived at the scene within minutes to find the wreckage of the aircraft engulfed in flames. Despite the rapid response of first responders, authorities confirmed late Saturday evening that there were no survivors among the four occupants of the helicopter.
“It is a tragic day for our community,” said a spokesperson for the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), the provincial police force, which has since taken over the investigation. “Our primary focus at this stage is the recovery of the victims and securing the site to allow for a thorough forensic examination.”
The identity of the victims has not yet been released, as police are in the process of notifying next of kin. Officials have not confirmed the flight path of the helicopter or the company to which the aircraft was registered, stating that those details remain part of an ongoing investigation.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has deployed a team of investigators to the crash site. They are expected to remain on-scene for several days to document the debris field, analyze the flight trajectory, and determine the mechanical or environmental factors that may have contributed to the catastrophe. The wreckage is located in a relatively difficult-to-access area, which may complicate the recovery process and the TSB’s data collection efforts.
For the duration of the investigation, the area surrounding the crash site has been cordoned off. Local authorities have requested that the public and media stay clear of the perimeter to ensure the safety of investigators and to preserve the integrity of the scene.
Weather conditions in the Montreal area on Saturday were described as overcast with moderate winds, though it is too early to determine if meteorological factors played a role in the incident.
As news of the tragedy spread, expressions of grief and support for the victims’ families began to emerge from local officials. The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, and the TSB has committed to providing updates as more information becomes available. Anyone who may have witnessed the crash or captured footage of the helicopter in the moments leading up to the impact is being urged to contact the Sûreté du Québec.
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