2 dead after small plane crashes in Quebec’s Mauricie region

Provincial police in Quebec have confirmed two people are dead following a plane crash near La Tuque in the Mauricie region.

Naor Cohen, the organizer of an aviation gathering nearby, said the accident happened Sunday as part of the events.

“There’s been an accident, and yes, there’s been two fatalities,” the organizer said when reached by phone on Monday, adding he couldn’t share more.

According to police, the crash happened around 5 p.m. in an isolated forest near Highway 457.

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Locals discovered the crash, which police also report included a fire.

“Unfortunately, the two victims were located and pronounced dead at the scene,” said Sgt. Camille Savoie, a police spokesperson, who also said a police helicopter was needed to recover the bodies.

The gathering, AeroVenture 2025, had been underway since Friday.

It’s hosted by the Casey Base Camp, and its website says it’s an “ecotourism community project” located at the airstrip near Casey, Que., a popular spot among aviation enthusiasts. According to the event description, the gathering revolves around learning about the history of the former Cold War military base alongside relaxing evenings around a campfire.

Canada’s Transportation Safety Board said the aircraft involved took off from that airport. It’s now investigating the cause of the crash in collaboration with police.

Liam MacDonald, a spokesperson for the safety board, said the aircraft crashed a couple of kilometres away from the airport, near a river in the area.

Police said the Quebec coroner’s office is also looking into the two deaths.