A small aircraft crash near Ottawa International Airport late Thursday afternoon has left one person trapped and two others hospitalized. The Grumman AA-5A, carrying three people, crash-landed around 6 p.m. in a wooded area off Riverside Drive near Hunt Club Road, after striking live hydro wires and coming to rest about 20 feet above ground in a tree.
Ottawa Fire Services spokesperson Nick DeFazio reported that live wires delayed rescue efforts until Hydro Ottawa arrived and shut off power. Once safe, firefighters used a ladder truck and specialized tools to rescue two occupants—a man and a woman—who were taken to hospital in stable condition. The third person remained trapped as of 8:30 p.m., and their condition is currently unknown.
Riverside Drive was closed between Hunt Club and River roads for several hours but reopened by 9:30 p.m. Witnesses reported seeing the plane flying unusually low just before the crash. Despite the incident, airport operations were not affected.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is investigating and confirmed the plane was on a forced approach to the airport when it hit the power lines. Investigators are on-site gathering evidence and speaking with witnesses.
In addition, a fuel leak from the aircraft prompted hazardous materials crews and airport firefighters to contain the spill. Foam was applied to the affected area, and crews deployed booms in the Rideau River to prevent fuel contamination.
Update – The third person, identified as the plane pilot, has died.