Small Plane Crashes Near Ottawa Airport – 2 Rescued, 1 Trapped | Emergency Response Ongoing

A small plane carrying three people crashed Thursday evening just west of the Ottawa International Airport. Emergency services rushed to the scene around 5:55 p.m. following reports of an aircraft going down near Riverside Drive and West Hunt Club Road.

Plane Hit Power Lines Before Crashing

The aircraft, identified as a privately registered Grumman AA-5A, clipped live hydro wires and ended up wedged in trees about 20 feet above ground. Emergency crews confirmed a significant fuel leak at the scene, prompting a hazmat response and river containment efforts to protect the nearby Rideau River.

Ottawa Fire Services said firefighters couldn’t start the rescue until Hydro Ottawa shut off power to the live lines. Once safe, firefighters used a bucket ladder and specialized equipment to begin extricating the passengers.

Two People Taken to Hospital

A man and a woman were pulled from the aircraft and brought to the hospital. Ottawa Paramedic Services reported both were in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries.

As of Thursday night, rescue efforts for the third occupant were still underway. Officials have not yet confirmed their condition.

Witnesses Describe Alarming Scene

Local resident Pablo Coles said he saw the plane flying unusually low before hearing a loud bang. He feared it had crashed into a nearby house but instead found it stuck in trees and wires.

“I am very sad for the people inside,” Coles shared, after seeing emergency workers escort one passenger out of the wreckage.

Another witness, Tom Kazmirchuk, saw the aircraft moments before the crash. “It was very low, very fast. It was evident it wasn’t going to make it,” he told CTV News.

Emergency Response and Investigation

Roads in the area, including a section of Riverside Drive, were temporarily closed but reopened later in the evening. Airport operations remained unaffected, and Ottawa International Airport’s fire service assisted on site.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has deployed two investigators. They confirmed the aircraft was on a forced approach to the airport when it struck power lines. Investigators are now gathering evidence, speaking with witnesses, and analyzing the wreckage to determine the cause of the crash.

Fuel Spill Contained

Ottawa Fire Services confirmed that a hazardous materials team and Rideau River crews were working to contain the fuel leak. Foam was applied to control vapors, and booms were placed in the river to prevent environmental contamination.

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More…

• https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/small-plane-with-3-aboard-crashes-west-of-ottawa-airport-1.7599186
• https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/small-plane-with-3-people-on-board-crashes-near-ottawa-airport
• https://ottawa.citynews.ca/2025/07/31/small-plane-crashes-near-ottawa-airport-with-three-people-aboard