A 68-year-old pilot has died after an aircraft crashed during an aerial display held as part of a Remembrance Day ceremony in the Beauce region of Quebec, Canada.
The aircraft went down in a wooded area near an airport and caught fire. Emergency crews arrived within minutes, but the pilot could not be rescued.
According to Canadian media reports, the crash occurred on Wednesday morning near the local airport in Saint-Georges, approximately 100 kilometres south of Quebec City.
Pilot Identified as 68-Year-Old Daniel Parent
Quebec provincial police, known as the Sûreté du Québec, said the aircraft was being flown by a local pilot who was over 60 years old. He was the only person on board.
Radio-Canada identified the deceased pilot as Daniel Parent, 68, who was a member of the local Club Aéronautique de Beauce.
Police initially described the pilot as critically injured before confirming his death at approximately 1:30 p.m.
Aircraft Crashed During Missing Man Formation
Saint-Georges Mayor Manon Bougie said the incident occurred during a Remembrance Day ceremony featuring an aerial display involving six aircraft.
The planes were performing a traditional Missing Man Formation, a manoeuvre used to honour fallen or missing comrades, when one of the aircraft crashed.
According to the city’s fire department, the accident happened as the pilot was bringing the aircraft down for landing. The plane went down in a wooded area near the airport and quickly burst into flames.
Fire Chief Frédéric Morin said emergency responders reached the crash site less than six minutes after receiving the call. However, the aircraft was already engulfed in flames, making it impossible to save the pilot.
Local Resident Describes Hearing a Loud Impact
A nearby resident, Michel Rodrigue, who lives approximately two kilometres from the ceremony site, described hearing a loud noise resembling metal striking against something.
He initially thought his cat had knocked something over inside his home. However, he soon discovered that an aircraft had crashed in the wooded area behind his property.
When he went outside, he saw flames rising from the forest. He attempted to help by bringing fire extinguishers to the scene, but the blaze was too intense to control with the two small extinguishers he had available.
Quebec and Federal Leaders Express Condolences
Political leaders in Quebec and across Canada expressed their condolences following the fatal crash.
Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon offered sympathies to the pilot’s family and loved ones, saying he was closely monitoring the situation and remained in contact with Public Security Minister Guy Lapointe Jr.
Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon also expressed sadness over the pilot’s death. Several other federal and provincial politicians shared messages of sympathy for the bereaved family.
Transportation Safety Board Launches Investigation
Police remained at the crash site as authorities began investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada announced that an investigation team would be sent to the scene to collect evidence and determine what caused the aircraft to go down.
Officials have not yet established the cause of the crash. The investigation remains ongoing, and further details are expected as authorities examine the wreckage and available evidence.
