Air transportation

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Deployment
Recommendation Name
Air transportation safety investigation report
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Figure 2. Occurrence helicopter at Victoria Harbour (Camel Point) Heliport (CBF7), following the occurrence (Source: CTV News)

Helicopter experiences lightning strike and loss of control over North Pender Island, British Columbia

Air transportation safety investigation A26O0024

The occurrence

On 25 February 2026, a Boeing 757-200 operated by Cargojet as flight CJT628 was cleared for takeoff from Runway 30 at the John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport, Ontario. As the aircraft commenced its takeoff roll, three snowplows holding short of Runway 12/30 on Taxiway Golf were cleared to proceed via Taxiway Golf and Taxiway Charlie onto Runway 06/24 and hold short of Runway 30.

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Figure 2. The helicopter and equipment to be transported from the staging area to the job site (Source: Natural Resources Canada, with TSB annotations)

Investigation report: Fatal helicopter accident on Vancouver Island, British Columbia