Canadian Air Ambulance Crash Kills Four
Ornge, which provides air medical service in Ontario, confirmed there were no survivors when the helicopter crashed May 31.
Two pilots and two paramedics died in the crash of an EMS helicopter in northern Ontario, Canada, early May 31. No patient was aboard, and no one on the aircraft survived the crash, according to statements posted by Ornge, which owns the helicopter and provides air medical service in Ontario.
Ornge identified the victims -- Captain Don Filliter of Skead, Ontario; First Officer Jacques Dupuy of Otterburn-Park, Quebec; Primary Care Flight Paramedic Dustin Dagenais of Moose Factory, Ontario; and Primary Care Flight Paramedic Chris Snowball of Burlington, Ontario -- and said their families have been notified. “We express our sincere condolences to friends and families of those who have died,” said Dr. Andrew McCallum, president and CEO of Ornge.
The crash happened at approximately 12:11 a.m. after the Sikorsky S76 helicopter departed from the Ornge Moosonee base, en route to Attawapiskat to transport a patient, according to the company's posted statement. "Contact was lost with the aircraft shortly after takeoff. Immediately, efforts began in relation to overdue and missing aircraft procedures," it says, adding, "At this time there is no indication what caused the accident. It will be investigated by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. Ornge will cooperate fully with the investigation team."
"Everybody at Ornge is deeply saddened by this tragic incident, and our hearts go out to the families and friends of those who lost their lives. We will do whatever we can to support them at this difficult time," McCallum said.
The company's headquarters are in Mississauga.