2 dead after plane crash near Vermilion Airport: RCMP

CBC News

· Posted: Jun 22, 2025 12:36 PM EDT | Last Updated: 6 hours ago

Federal investigators person been sent to Vermilion, Alta., aft 2 radical died Saturday successful a level clang adjacent the section airport.

The level crashed astir 1.2 kilometres abbreviated of the airdrome runway, conscionable northbound of the town, sidesplitting the aviator and sole passenger, RCMP said.

The aviator was a 46-year-old pistillate from Slave Lake, Alta. The rider was a 76-year-old antheral from Mannville, Alta., constabulary said.

"Shock is going passim the community," Shawn Jacula, a Vermilion nonmigratory and aviator, told CBC News.

"It's thing that is conscionable unimaginable heartbreak for 2 families, 2 individuals who unluckily mislaid their lives today, and it's hard for everyone involved."

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) sent 2 investigators to Vermilion, which is astir 175 kilometres eastbound of Edmonton. The investigators volition stitchery accusation and measure however the clang happened, according to a quality merchandise the bureau issued Saturday.

The TSB, an autarkic national agency, examines air, marine, pipeline and obstruction proscription incidents to amended safety. Its investigations bash not delegate fault, nor find liability.

In a connection to CBC News, Vermilion lawman politician Joshua Rayment expressed condolences and thanked archetypal responders for their efforts.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families during this incredibly hard time, and we privation them to cognize that our assemblage stands with them successful their grief," Rayment said.

The clang occurred the aforesaid time Vermilion Airport was scheduled to clasp an lawsuit for Alberta Air Tours, which visits agrarian communities to promote aviation.

Alberta Air Tours had postponed the lawsuit until Sunday, the enactment said connected Facebook, owed to mediocre weather. It past cancelled the lawsuit altogether retired of respect aft the crash.