MONTREAL A medical transport helicopter crashed on Quebec's North Shore during a rescue operation late Friday night, leaving four individuals unaccounted for. The accident occurred around 10:30 p.m. near Natashquan, Quebec, which is situated over 1,000 kilometers northeast of Montreal. The helicopter, operated by the Longueuil-based firm Airmedic, was involved in a medical evacuation when it crashed into a lake shortly after takeoff, according to a spokesman from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.
Raphaele Bourgault, a spokesperson for Airmedic, confirmed that the helicopter was part of their operational fleet and noted that emergency services were immediately dispatched to the site of the crash. “Airmedic staff are working closely with authorities and first responders to manage the situation and provide the necessary assistance,” Bourgault stated in an email. She further expressed that the company’s thoughts and concerns are with those affected by the incident.
The helicopter was carrying five people, comprising one passenger and four crew members. As of Saturday morning, Quebec provincial police Sgt. Élizabeth Marquis-Guy reported that one male occupant was rescued, suffering only non-life-threatening injuries and was subsequently hospitalized. However, the conditions of the remaining individuals on board the aircraft remained unknown at the time. The police have sought assistance from the Royal Canadian Air Force due to the challenging nature of the search.
Len Hickey from the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax indicated that a CC-130 Hercules aircraft and a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter had been dispatched to aid in the ongoing search and rescue operations in Lac Watshishou. “Search and rescue technicians are also planning to dive in the vicinity of the last known location of the helicopter as part of ongoing efforts,” Hickey added, highlighting the multifaceted approach being taken in the search operations.
Earlier in the day, Quebec provincial police announced that they intended to search a wooded region north of Natashquan as part of the rescue efforts. A command post has been established on-site where search specialists capable of conducting searches via water, land, and air have assembled. Marquis-Guy confirmed that these specialists are in place and actively participating in the search operations.
The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) has officially launched an investigation into the incident, with assistance from the provincial police. According to TSB spokesman Nic Defalco, the Board is in contact with the operator and others involved to gather pertinent information regarding the crash.
This report has been corrected, as a previous version incorrectly identified the individual taken to the hospital as a woman.
