2 dead, 1 in hospital after helicopter crash near north Vancouver Island

16-Jul-2026

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A helicopter company says two people are dead and another is injured after a helicopter crash near north Vancouver Island on the morning of July 14.

Sean Smyth, general manager of West Coast Helicopters, said the helicopter was operating in Loughborough Inlet for forestry operations when the crash happened.

He said an experienced pilot who worked for him was one of the two people who died.

Details around the crash are still unknown, Smyth said, adding that his company will be open and transparent about what happened.