Communiqué de presse visant l’hélicoptère R44 disparu dans les Laurentides / News Release for the missing R44 helicopter in Laurentides

July 20, 2019 – Trenton, Ont. – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

After searching over 20,000 km2 since 11 July for a missing R44 helicopter with two persons on board, the Royal Canadian Air Force has taken the difficult decision to reduce the search and relinquish the case to the Sûreté du Québec as a missing persons investigation, upon the completion of today’s search operation.

The helicopter had been flying from an area near Lac de la Bidière to Sainte Sophie on 10 July. It was reported overdue and Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Trenton began search operations with RCAF aircraft from 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario and 3 Wing Bagotville, Quebec.Additional aircraft were later added, including a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter and CP-140 Aurora Long Range Patrol aircraft from 14 Wing Greenwood, Nova Scotia. Search and rescue aircrew searched both day and night, at various altitudes and directions of flight, to saturate the search area.

Over 90 persons from the RCAF, Canadian Coast Guard, Sauvetage et recherche aériens du Québec, the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association and Sûreté du Québec took part in the operation. JRCC Trenton worked closely with the search efforts of the family of the missing to ensure effectiveness and safety in the search region.

No further active searching by the RCAF is planned, although search activity may take place if new information becomes available.

Quick Facts

• At the height of the operation, the RCAF contributed two CC-130H Hercules, a CP-140 Aurora Long Range Patrol Aircraft, three CH-146 Griffon helicopters and a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter. These aircraft were joined by a Sûreté du Québec helicopter, a Canadian Coast Guard helicopter and three airplanes from the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association and Sauvetage et recherche aériens du Québec.

• Using cellular signals, searchers were able to narrow the search to an area of approximately 2200km2. Dense forests, numerous lakes and rocky terrain posed a challenge to air crew, as did storms that moved into the region periodically during the operation.

• The Royal Canadian Air Force is responsible for aeronautical search and rescue in Canada under the federal SAR mandate. Search and rescue (SAR) incidents under the federal SAR mandate are defined as all aircraft incidents and all marine incidents in waters under federal jurisdiction.

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