The death of pilot Suzanne Jutras has drawn attention to a fatal helicopter crash in Quebec that killed four people on September 26, 2026. The aircraft came down in a field in Sainte-Brigide-d’Iberville, southeast of Montreal, and caught fire after the crash.
Jutras was identified as the pilot, while the other three people aboard were members of the same family. Investigators from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada are examining the crash, but the official cause has not yet been established.
Latest Update: September 30, 2026
As of September 30, 2026, the investigation into the Suzanne Jutras helicopter crash is still underway. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada, known as the TSB, sent investigators to the crash site after the September 26 accident. The agency says its role is to gather information and assess the occurrence rather than assign fault or determine criminal or civil responsibility.
Canadian reports have identified the four people killed as Suzanne Jutras, Gabriel Jasmin, Chantal Raymond and Loucas Perreault. Family members said the three passengers had been taking part in a helicopter ride connected to Raymond’s birthday.
Authorities have not announced a final explanation for why the helicopter crashed. Early police information indicated that the aircraft experienced difficulties, while later reporting described the aircraft as returning before the accident. Those preliminary details should not be treated as the final finding of the investigation.
Important: The cause of the crash has not been officially determined. Mechanical failure, pilot action, weather or another factor should not be stated as the confirmed cause unless investigators later establish it.
What Happened to Suzanne Jutras?
Suzanne Jutras was the pilot of the helicopter that crashed in Sainte-Brigide-d’Iberville on Saturday, September 26. She was 50 years old, according to Canadian media reports, and was identified by people and organizations who knew her after the accident.
The crash happened at approximately 2:30 p.m. in the Rang des Écossais area, near Highway 10 and roughly 50 kilometres southeast of Montreal. The helicopter went down in a field and caught fire. Emergency crews extinguished the blaze within about an hour, and all four occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.
Initial police information indicated that the helicopter had encountered difficulties around the time of the flight. Later accounts from Jutras’ partner, Yves Boulais, provided additional observations about the final moments of the flight, but those observations do not establish the technical cause of the accident.
Who Were the Other Victims?
The other three people killed were Gabriel Jasmin, Chantal Raymond and Loucas Perreault. They were members of the same family and were passengers on the helicopter. Family members later said the flight was intended as part of a birthday celebration for Raymond.
Gabriel Jasmin
Gabriel Jasmin was a radio personality in Quebec’s Eastern Townships. Canadian Press reporting said he hosted a program for Énergie 106.1, a Bell Media radio station. His death was also acknowledged by the station, which expressed condolences to his family, colleagues and loved ones.
Jasmin was the partner of Océane Perreault. The couple had a young daughter. Perreault publicly mourned Jasmin as well as her mother and brother following the crash.
Chantal Raymond
Chantal Raymond was one of the three passengers and was the mother of Océane Perreault. Her husband, Martin Perrault, also shared a tribute following her death, describing the family life and memories they had built together.
Family accounts indicate that Raymond’s birthday was being celebrated through the helicopter outing. What was intended as a family occasion therefore became the final flight for three members of the family.
Loucas Perreault
Loucas Perreault was Chantal Raymond’s son and Océane Perreault’s brother. He was also among the three passengers killed in the crash. Family tributes described the loss as devastating and emphasized the close relationship between the victims.
Who Was Suzanne Jutras?
Jutras was a helicopter pilot who was known to people in the local community. Friends interviewed after the accident described her as professional and enthusiastic about flying.
One friend, Judy Frost, told Global News that she had flown with Jutras several times, including a flight only about a week before the fatal accident. Frost said Jutras was approaching 500 hours of flight time and was excited about reaching that milestone.
Other Canadian reporting has placed Jutras’ flight experience at more than 500 hours. Because the investigation is still in its early stages, information about her licensing history, training and aircraft operating history should be treated separately from conclusions about the crash itself.
Her Connection to the Local Community
Jutras was also remembered by the Félixeries family festival in Saint-Félix-de-Kingsey. The organization described her as its preferred pilot over the previous three years and publicly mourned her after learning of the crash.
Her partner, Yves Boulais, also spoke publicly about the accident. According to Quebec media, he had been in the area when the helicopter came down and attempted to reach the aircraft after the crash, although the fire prevented him from safely getting close.
Where Did the Helicopter Crash?
The helicopter crashed in Sainte-Brigide-d’Iberville, a municipality in Quebec’s Montérégie region. The location is southeast of Montreal, with reports placing the crash site around 50 kilometres from the city.
The aircraft came down in a field in the Rang des Écossais area, near Highway 10. Police and emergency crews responded to the scene after the crash was reported during the afternoon of September 26.
The fire added another challenge for emergency responders. Police said the helicopter was burning when crews arrived, and firefighters brought the blaze under control within roughly an hour. Authorities have not established whether the fire began before the impact or resulted from the crash.
What Caused the Suzanne Jutras Helicopter Crash?
The cause remains unknown as of September 30, 2026. This is one of the most important points to keep in mind when reading reports about the accident.
The Sûreté du Québec initially said the aircraft had reportedly experienced difficulties before the crash. Later reporting provided more information about the aircraft’s movements, but those early observations are not the same as a completed accident finding.
The TSB has been assigned to investigate the aviation occurrence. Its investigators will gather evidence and assess what happened. The agency specifically explains that its purpose is to advance transportation safety and that it does not determine civil or criminal liability.
Canadian aviation experts quoted in local coverage have discussed several possible areas investigators may examine, including the aircraft, pilot procedures and operating history. Those comments are expert discussion rather than an official finding about this particular crash. No specific cause should therefore be presented as confirmed at this stage.
How the Investigation Works
The TSB investigation is expected to involve examination of the wreckage and available evidence surrounding the flight. Investigators may also review maintenance information, aircraft records, witness accounts and other relevant material as they reconstruct what happened.
A Quebec report noted that the wreckage would be transported for further examination. The investigation could take considerable time, meaning the public may not receive a final explanation immediately.
The TSB’s initial deployment notice confirms that investigators were sent to the site on September 26. The agency said it would gather information and assess the occurrence.
Quick Table
| Detail | Confirmed Information |
|---|---|
| Crash date | September 26, 2026 |
| Approximate time | About 2:30 p.m. local time |
| Location | Sainte-Brigide-d’Iberville, Quebec |
| Region | Montérégie, southeast of Montreal |
| Pilot | Suzanne Jutras, 50 |
| Passengers | Gabriel Jasmin, Chantal Raymond and Loucas Perreault |
| Total aboard | Four |
| Fatalities | Four |
| Aircraft | Private helicopter; specific model has not been confirmed in the available official information |
| Fire | The helicopter caught fire after the crash; the exact timing of the fire has not been established |
| Investigation | Transportation Safety Board of Canada, with the Sûreté du Québec involved in the initial response and investigation |
| Official cause | Not determined as of September 30, 2026 |
Reader Questions
Who was Suzanne Jutras?
Suzanne Jutras was a 50-year-old helicopter pilot from Quebec who was flying the aircraft involved in the September 26, 2026 crash. Friends and community organizations remembered her positively after her death.
When did Suzanne Jutras die?
Jutras died on September 26, 2026, when the helicopter she was piloting crashed in Sainte-Brigide-d’Iberville, Quebec. All four people aboard were killed.
Where did the Suzanne Jutras helicopter crash happen?
The helicopter crashed in a field in Sainte-Brigide-d’Iberville in Quebec’s Montérégie region. The municipality is approximately 50 kilometres southeast of Montreal.
Who else died in the helicopter crash?
The other victims were Gabriel Jasmin, Chantal Raymond and Loucas Perreault. They were passengers and members of the same family.
What caused the Suzanne Jutras helicopter crash?
The official cause has not been determined as of September 30, 2026. The Sûreté du Québec initially reported that the aircraft experienced difficulties, while the TSB continues to examine the circumstances of the accident.
Was Suzanne Jutras an experienced pilot?
Canadian reports said Jutras had more than 500 hours of flight experience. A friend who had flown with her also described her as professional and enthusiastic about flying.
Who is investigating the Quebec helicopter crash?
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has deployed investigators to examine the aviation occurrence. The Sûreté du Québec also responded to the crash and was involved in the initial investigation.
Did the helicopter catch fire?
Yes. Authorities said the helicopter was on fire after it crashed into the field. Firefighters brought the blaze under control within approximately an hour, but investigators have not established whether the fire began before impact or because of the crash.
Was the helicopter ride connected to a birthday celebration?
Yes. Family members said the three passengers were taking the helicopter ride as part of a celebration for Chantal Raymond’s birthday. The outing ended in the fatal crash.
Wrap-Up
The Suzanne Jutras helicopter crash has left four people dead and a family and local community mourning. Jutras, the pilot, was killed alongside Gabriel Jasmin, Chantal Raymond and Loucas Perreault after the helicopter crashed in Sainte-Brigide-d’Iberville on September 26.
The facts currently established are clear about the location, date, number of victims and the involvement of the Transportation Safety Board. What remains unresolved is why the helicopter went down. Early descriptions of difficulties during the flight provide useful context, but they should not be confused with a final accident finding.
As the investigation continues, further information may clarify the aircraft’s condition, the circumstances of the flight and the sequence of events before impact. Until investigators release confirmed findings, claims about a specific mechanical problem, pilot error or another cause remain unverified.
Disclaimer
This article is based on information available from Canadian authorities and news reports as of September 30, 2026. The investigation into the helicopter crash remains active, and some details may change as investigators release additional findings. No cause of the crash has been presented here as confirmed unless officially established.
