26-07-2025
Small plane crashes near Deer Lake, N.L., airport, 1st responders on the scene
A small plane crashed Saturday afternoon near the airport in Deer Lake, N.L., a town of about 5,000 people in western Newfoundland, RCMP confirmed to a CBC reporter on the scene.
First responders are attending, but there's no word yet of any passengers or casualties. CBC is working to collect more information about the type of plane and operator.
In a post on Facebook, Deer Lake Coun. Brett Langdon said, "Reports of a small plane crash near the entrance to Deer Lake Regional Airport. The TCH [Trans-Canada Highway] east of Deer Lake is currently shut down in both directions.
"First responders are asking people to please stay away from the area at this time."
According to the Deer Lake's website, the town is at the crossroads of the Trans-Canada and the Great Northern Peninsula, and a short drive from White Bay. In the heart of Humber Valley, it's "a vibrant community rich in natural beauty, history and opportunity."
'We heard a pop and then just big black smoke'
CBC spoke to Dean Major, who said he saw the plane crash while standing in his contracting yard with other workers on the highway near the airport.
While the plane was falling, Major said, smoke appeared to be coming from the right-hand side of the plane and he saw the plane turn, so the cockpit was in view.
"And we heard a pop and then just big black smoke [was] coming from just all the trees," said Major.
He said he drove up the road and found the plane had crashed in a ditch on the Trans-Canada near the Airport Road intersection.
"It was a ball of fire," said Major.
Major said he and some other workers went to the crash site and saw the aircraft in flames.
He called emergency responders, who arrived on scene quickly.
He could not see anyone in the aircraft.
"There was nothing left — just a skeleton of a plane."
