Two Dead, One Injured After Helicopter Crash Near North Vancouver Island
Liam O'Connell
7/15/20261 min read
Two people are dead and one person is injured after a helicopter crashed near north Vancouver Island on Tuesday morning.
The helicopter was operating in Loughborough Inlet as part of forestry operations when the crash occurred, according to Sean Smyth, general manager of West Coast Helicopters.
Smyth said one of the two people killed was an experienced pilot who worked for the company.
“We're a tight-knit crew,” he said. “It's been hard on everybody.”
He described the pilot as a key member of the team who was well liked, hardworking and highly skilled.
Passengers Were Forestry Engineers
Smyth said the two passengers on board were engineers working with a forestry operations company.
Details about what caused the crash remain unclear.
Smyth said West Coast Helicopters intends to be open and transparent as more information becomes available.
Emergency Crews Responded After Locator Signal
The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Victoria said it was notified of the crash after receiving an emergency locator transmitter signal at around 6:30 a.m.
A Cormorant helicopter and a Kingfisher aircraft from 19 Wing Comox were sent to respond.
JRCC said three people were recovered and taken to local health services.
One Person Taken to Hospital
B.C. Emergency Health Services said it received a call about the incident near Stafford Lake, close to Bute Inlet.
Two air ambulances and one ground ambulance responded.
Paramedics provided emergency care to one patient, who was flown to Canadian Forces Base Comox and then transported by air ambulance to hospital.
BCEHS said the patient was in serious but stable condition.
Transportation Safety Board Investigating
The Transportation Safety Board said it is deploying a team of investigators to the crash site.
Investigators are expected to arrive Wednesday morning.
The agency will examine the circumstances of the crash as part of its investigation.
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