Ottawa plane crash: Two rescued, fate of one is unknown after plane crash near Ottawa airport; flights unaffected

A small private aircraft crashed into a line of trees near Ottawa International Airport late Thursday afternoon, July 31, sending two people to the hospital and prompting a complex, hours-long emergency response.

The aircraft was on approach to the airport when it struck power lines, causing it to become lodged about 20 feet above the ground, entangled in trees and live high-voltage wires, according to Nicholas Defalco, a media-relations specialist with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, quoted by the Ottawa Citizen.

According to Ottawa Fire Services, two occupants, a man and a woman, were extricated and taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.


According to the Ottawa Citizen report, the operation to rescue a third person from the aircraft continued well into the evening.

Power lines struck, fuel leak contained

Nicholas Defalco confirmed that the aircraft was privately registered and hit power lines while approaching the airport.

The crash led to a fuel leak, with runoff entering a nearby creek that flows into the Rideau River. Ottawa's hazardous materials and water rescue teams responded swiftly to contain the spill.

Ottawa Fire’s Nicholas DeFazio told the Ottawa Citizen that Hydro Ottawa quickly cut power, allowing rescue teams to begin extrication. Fortunately, nearby residences did not sustain structural damage, and no fire was reported.

Road closure and flight operations

The crash prompted road closures along Riverside Drive between Hunt Club and River roads, which police said could last for several hours.

Krista Kealey, a spokesperson for the Ottawa International Airport Authority, told Toronto City News that the airport’s fire service and city firefighters responded to the crash.

Kealey added that airport operations were normal.