The body of an octogenarian was found aboard his crashed aircraft in the Ouasiemsca River area, northwest of Lac-Saint-Jean, on Friday, after an intense aerial search that required the assistance of the Canadian Army.
The disappearance of the 83-year-old man was reported by his relatives in Chibougamau, in the Nord-du-Québec region, around 4 p.m. Thursday. He had left by aircraft to reach his camp, accessible only by air, in the Girardville sector, in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean. Then he gave no further news.
The aerial searches were undertaken overnight from Thursday to Friday by police officers from the Chapais station, supported by the Canadian army, said Marc Tessier, spokesperson for the Sûreté du Québec (SQ).
An aircraft was located on the ground around 4 a.m. near the camp of the octogenarian. “On the other hand, due to the darkness, the weather conditions and the lack of fuel, they were not able to go and see immediately,” explains Mr. Tessier.
Rescue teams returned there around 11 a.m. Friday. “They saw the crash of the plane and found an inanimate body inside,” details Mr. Tessier. The victim was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Investigations by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the coroner have been opened, said agent Stéphane Tremblay, spokesperson for the SQ, in the evening.