CBC News

· Posted: Jun 21, 2025 11:30 AM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour ago

Four people are missing after an Airmedic helicopter crashed near Natashquan, a community on Quebec's North Shore,  around 10:30 p.m. Friday.

The air ambulance was in the process of a medical evacuation and crashed into a lake shortly after takeoff, according to Nic Defalco, a spokesperson for Canada's Transportation Safety Board (TSB).

Four crew members and one passenger were on board, said Raphaele Bourgault, a spokesperson for Airmedic which specializes in medical air transport.

One person was rescued and transported to hospital. Their injuries are not life-threatening, according to provincial police, the Sûreté du Québec (SQ).

Ground and aquatic search teams are on site to try and find the four missing individuals. 

"Airmedic personnel are working closely with authorities and first responders to manage the situation and provide assistance," the company said in a statement.

The SQ and the TSB are investigating the cause of the crash.