A pilot has died after a small plane involved in a Remembrance Day ceremony crashed Wednesday in Quebec. Quebec provincial police confirmed the male pilot, a man in his 60s from the area, was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash happened at around 11 a.m. in a wooded area near the Saint-Georges airport in Beauce, about 100 kilometres south of Quebec City. “It’s a major crime unit that is investigating the case, trying to make sure that there was no criminal aspect involved,” said Sureté du Québec (SQ) spokesperson Audrey-Anne Bilodeau, adding that the Transport Safety Board is also heading to the scene. “It was participating in an event with other planes when he went down, unfortunately,” said Bilodeau. Bilodeau said the man was alone in the plane. The City of Saint-Georges wrote in a post on Facebook that the plane crashed while it was reportedly on approach for landing and that the pilot had just participated in the Remembrance Day commemoration. “What has just happened is truly sad and terrible,” said Saint-Georges Mayor Manon Bougie in a statement. “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.” A witness told Noovo Info that the plane apparently broke away from the group of other aircraft flying as part of the ceremony. A woman who witnessed the events from her office window noticed that the plane was flying lower than the others before disappearing behind some trees. Black smoke was then reportedly seen rising into the sky. Another witness saw the plane nosedive. The Sûreté du Québec is investigating. The federal Transportation Safety Board said it is also sending a team of investigators to the scene. Political leaders offer condolences Political leaders in Quebec offered their condolences to the pilot’s family. Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said he is closely monitoring the situation with Domestic Security Minister Guy Jr. Lapointe. “I would like to offer my sincere condolences to his family and loved ones,” the premier said in a post on X. Quebec Liberal leader Charles Milliard also reacted to the tragedy. “My deepest condolences go out to the family and loved ones of the pilot who tragically lost his life in the crash of this aircraft in Saint-Georges-de-Beauce while taking part in Remembrance Day celebrations,” he wrote on X. “My thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy.”
