The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is investigating the collision of an unmanned aircraft system and Beechcraft King Air A100.
Marc Garneau, Canada’s minister of transport, called it a “first” for the country.
At the time of Garneau’s statement, the safety board had not yet announced an investigation into the Oct. 12 incident.
According to an initial publication by the board, the aircraft, operated by Skyjet M. G., was on an IFR flight from Rouyn-Noranda airport (CYUY) to the Jean Lesage International Airport (CYQB) in Québec. Two crewmembers and six passengers were on board. The safety board said that as the aircraft was approaching the runway, the crew noticed a drone at the extremity of the left wing. The two vehicles collided at an altitude of 1,500 feet, according to the board, and the crew declared an emergency.
Upon inspection, the board continued, a few scrapes were found on the aircraft, as well as some paint transfer on the left wing and scrape mars on the de-icing boot. No one was injured and the aircraft was returned to service.