‘Extensive’ efforts continue to find 4 missing from Quebec helicopter crash

The search for four people who have been missing since a medical transport helicopter crashed into a lake in eastern Quebec on Friday night continued on Monday by emergency services personnel. The search continues in and around Watshishou Lake near Natashquan as divers from the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) joined in the effort on Sunday morning.
Global News was informed by a Royal Canadian Air Force spokesperson that the agency is no longer involved in the search. “All Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft have completed a thorough visual search of the Air Medic helicopter’s last known location. Unfortunately, the missing personnel have not been located at this time,” Lt. Len Hickey, Commander, stated in an email on Monday. “As of 3:00 p.m. (EDT) June 22: “All RCAF tasked aircraft have resumed their return to base and suspended their search efforts.” Five people were aboard an Airmedic helicopter on Friday at around 10:30 p.m. before it crashed into the lake.One person managed to escape but crews are currently searching for the four others who were aboard the pre-hospital medical transport service aircraft when it went down.
“One crew member has been safely recovered; their life is not in danger, and they are currently receiving the necessary support,” Airmedic said in a statement Sunday morning.“ Yesterday, extensive search and rescue efforts were carried out on the ground, in the air, and on the water. This morning, diving teams from the Sûreté du Québec are on site to support the ongoing and active search operations.”
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is working alongside Quebec police as it attempts to discover the cause of the collision.
“The helicopter was in the process of a medical evacuation and crashed into a lake shortly after takeoff,” a spokesperson for the TSB told Global News in an emailed statement.
“An investigation has been opened. The TSB is in contact with the operator and others involved and is collecting information.”
“The helicopter was conducting a medical evacuation and crashed into a lake shortly after takeoff,” according to preliminary information gathered by the TSB.