A pilot has died after a small plane involved in a Remembrance Day ceremony crashed Wednesday in Quebec. A source confirmed to CTV News the pilot was 68-year-old Daniel Parent. Earlier in the day Wednesday, Quebec provincial police said he was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash happened at around 11 a.m. in a wooded area near the Saint-Georges airport in Beauce, about 100 kilometres south of Quebec City. “It’s a major crime unit that is investigating the case, trying to make sure that there was no criminal aspect involved,” said Sureté du Québec (SQ) spokesperson Audrey-Anne Bilodeau, adding that the Transport Safety Board is also heading to the scene. “It was participating in an event with other planes when he went down, unfortunately,” said Bilodeau. Planes were performing aerial salute Bilodeau said the pilot, who was from the Saint-Georges area, was alone in the plane. Manon Bougie, the mayor of Saint-Georges, told CTV News that the plane was part of a formation of six planes taking part in the city’s Remembrance Day ceremony Wednesday morning. The planes were performing a “Missing Man” formation, an aerial salute that is performed during commemorative events to honour a fallen soldier. The plane was on its final approach for landing when it crashed. “This is a very sad and tragic event, especially on a day dedicated to remembrance and reflection,” the mayor said. “Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and loved ones, as well as everyone affected by this tragedy.” A witness told Noovo Info that the plane apparently broke away from the group of other aircraft flying as part of the ceremony. A woman who witnessed the events from her office window noticed that the plane was flying lower than the others before disappearing behind some trees. Black smoke was then reportedly seen rising into the sky. Another witness saw the plane nosedive. Political leaders offer condolences Political leaders in Quebec offered their condolences to the pilot’s family. Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said he is closely monitoring the situation with Domestic Security Minister Guy Jr. Lapointe. “I would like to offer my sincere condolences to his family and loved ones,” the premier said in a post on X. Quebec Liberal leader Charles Milliard also reacted to the tragedy. “My deepest condolences go out to the family and loved ones of the pilot who tragically lost his life in the crash of this aircraft in Saint-Georges-de-Beauce while taking part in Remembrance Day celebrations,” he wrote on X. “My thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy.”
