Plane crashes in St. Lawrence River

(Newswatch Group/Bill Kingston, File)

IROQUOIS – A small plane has crashed in the St. Lawrence River near the Iroquois Beach.

The single-engine amateur build aircraft (Volksplane VP2) came down in the river this morning while trying to land.

“The aircraft was performing a go-around due to numerous birds on the airfield during a landing attempt. During the climb-out, the engine stopped functioning and the pilot performed a forced landing on the St. Lawrence River near the shoreline,” Transportation Safety Board spokesman Chris Krepski told Cornwall Newswatch.

Krepski said the pilot was picked up by a passing boater, who also towed the aircraft to shore.

He said the pilot was not injured and damage to the aircraft is minor.

The plane is registered to James Scoles of Ottawa, Ont., according to Transport Canada, though it’s not known whether it was Scoles who was piloting the aircraft.