Military helicopter crashes in Ottawa River, 2 of 4 crew members missing

Military helicopter crashes in Ottawa River, 2 of 4 crew members missing

The Canadian Armed Forces are searching the Ottawa River for two crew members of a military helicopter that crashed in the Ottawa River this morning just after midnight.

“The Royal Canadian Air Force is currently involved in a search for two missing members of 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron following the crash of a CH-147F Chinook in the Ottawa River near Garrison Petawawa, Ontario during a training flight in the early morning of Tuesday, June 20, 2023,” the Department of National Defence wrote in a press release. “The missing crew are amongst a total crew of four who were on the helicopter at the time of the accident. Two other members of the crew were found by first responders and taken to hospital in Pembroke.”

Boaters are asked to stay clear of the shore near Petawawa as around 50 military members conduct a search, aided by local police and fire departments. Garrison Petawawa is located across the river from the municipalities of Sheenboro and L’Isle-aux-Allumettes.