Emergency crews attend to the landing area of Kananaskis Mountain Helicopters along the Trans Canada highway about 45 West of Calgary, Alberta after one of its helicopters crashed earlier today around 1:30 PM.Chris Bolin for The Globe and Mail
The pilot of a sightseeing helicopter has died after his craft crashed into a mountain near Canmore, Alta. Friday afternoon. Four passengers were injured.
The helicopter, which belongs to Kananaskis Heli Tours, was taking a group of people on a tour when it went down near Grotto Mountain. RCMP were called around 1 p.m. local time and rescuers reached the site around 2:45 p.m.
Shortly before 4 p.m., a company employee said everyone on the trip, which included sightseers and the pilot had been rescued.
An air ambulance met them near the scene and crews provided medical attention. The pilot died before he could be flown to Calgary for treatment.
Police are not releasing his name, pending notification of next-of-kin.
The passengers, who have non-life-threatening injuries, were taken to Calgary to be evaluated by ground ambulance.
The Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause of the crash.
Grotto Mountain, which sits just east of Canmore overlooking the Trans-Canada Highway, is about 100 kilometres west of Calgary.
Adrian Morrow