A Hughes 500D (369D) helicopter operated by West Coast Helicopters crashed during forestry operations in the Loughborough area of British Columbia, Canada, on Tuesday morning, July 14, 2026, killing two of the three people on board.
The accident occurred at approximately 6:15 a.m. while the helicopter was operating in Loughborough Inlet with a forestry crew. The aircraft reportedly went down under circumstances that remain unknown at this stage. The helicopter was destroyed in the crash.
West Coast Helicopters confirmed that pilot Riley Browne and a CFMG crew member were killed. One occupant survived the accident.
In an emotional tribute, the company remembered Riley as a close friend and valued pilot who “always had a smile on his face” and was eager to help others. He began his flying career with West Coast Helicopters in 2021 and was described as “one of the pillars of the company.”
The company extended its condolences and prayers to Riley’s tight-knit family, well known in the Port McNeill community, as well as to the family, friends and colleagues of the CFMG crew member who also lost their life.
The cause of the crash has not yet been determined, and further details surrounding the accident remain limited.
