A pilot has died after a small plane crashed Nov. 11 near Quebec City, where it was scheduled to take part in a Remembrance Day ceremony.
Quebec provincial police have confirmed the pilot was pronounced dead at the scene. The Sûreté du Québec is investigating.
The crash occurred near the Saint-Georges airport in the Beauce region, about 100 kilometres south of Quebec City.
Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon confirmed in a Nov. 11 social media post that an aircraft scheduled to take part in Remembrance Day commemorations had crashed earlier that morning in Saint-Georges-de-Beauce.
He said he was monitoring the situation and was in contact with Public Safety Minister Guy Jr. Lapointe to determine whether the provincial government could provide assistance.
“At this time, we do not know whether the pilot or anyone else has been injured. My heart goes out to those involved and their families,” St-Pierre Plamondon said.
In an online post, Quebec Liberal Leader Charles Milliard offered his condolences to the family and loved ones of the pilot who died in the crash, saying his thoughts were with everyone affected by the tragedy.
Saint-Georges Mayor Manon Bougie issued a statement Nov. 11 confirming that the plane crashed at about 11:01 a.m. near the Saint-Georges airport. She said the fire department reported that the aircraft crashed in a wooded area and caught fire on impact.
Bougie said the crash reportedly occurred as the pilot was approaching the airport to land, after taking part in a Remembrance Day ceremony.
“What has just happened is truly sad and terrible,” Bougie said. “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.”
Bougie added that representatives of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada were on their way to the crash site, while the Sûreté du Québec was taking over communications about the incident.
Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon said in a social media post that he was saddened to learn of the pilot’s death.
“My thoughts are with his family, his loved ones, and everyone affected by this tragedy,” he remarked.
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre wrote on social media that his thoughts were with the pilot’s family and loved ones, and he also thanked “the courageous emergency teams who responded to the call.”
A spokesperson for the Transportation Safety Board said in an email to The Epoch Times that the agency has deployed investigators to the site to gather information and assess the occurrence.
On site, they will gather information on a number of things, including but not limited to the aircraft wreckage, the aircraft’s operation and human factors, the operator/company, meteorological conditions, the aircraft’s maintenance history, and any other relevant information.
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
