Canadian Military Members Killed in Helicopter Crash Northwest of Ottawa, Says Trudeau

A Canadian Forces Military Police officer watches the water on Black Bear Beach near Garrison Petawawa in Petawawa, Ont. on June 20, 2023. The Royal Canadian Air Force is currently searching for two missing RCAF 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron members following a CH-147F Chinook early morning crash near Garrison Petawawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

Without specifying the number of casualties, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says that members of the Royal Canadian Air Force were killed on June 20 in a helicopter crash near a town northwest of Ottawa.

Initial reports from the Department of National Defence (DND) said the crash left two military members injured and another two missing.

Speaking to reporters that morning in Ottawa, Trudeau said there would be “significant investigations” to determine the cause of the crash and added that he was still receiving information from Canada’s chief of the Defence Staff, Gen. Wayne Eyre.

Trudeau spoke to reporters again in the afternoon and said he has expressed his “condolences to the families and colleagues of the members killed.”

“The fact is there will be a thorough investigation,” he said. “There will be answers to give, but right now we’re focusing on notification of the families and support.”

The prime minister did not provide any further information.

The Epoch Times reached out to the DND for clarification of the prime minister’s comments but did not hear back before press time.

DND said earlier in the day that four RCAF members were on board a CH-147 Chinook helicopter just after midnight near the Ottawa River close to Petawawa, Ont. when the crash occurred.

The department added that the members were on board the helicopter as part of a training flight, and said that two of them were found by first responders and taken to a hospital in Pembroke, Ont. The other two were still missing.

DND said around 50 Canadian military members were searching for the two missing RCAF members on shore and in the water and being assisted by an Ontario Provincial Police unit as well as the Petawawa and Pembroke Fire Departments and several military rescue aircraft.

Trudeau said that his government was “hoping for the best, but braced for the worst.”

“My thoughts go out to the entire Canadian Armed Forces, the members of the 450 Squadron who are obviously very deeply affected by this,” he said.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.