1 dead after planes collide above shopping centre on Montreal's South Shore

A 21-year-oldmanis dead and a 23-year-old man critically injuredafter two smallCessna 152 planes collided in mid-air over Saint-Bruno on Montreal's South Shore.

The injured pilot's life is not in danger, Longueuil police said. Two other people were also taken to hospital for shock.

The crash occurred above the Promenades Saint-Bruno shopping centre shortly before 1 p.m.Friday. One of the planes fell intothe shopping centre's parking lot, while the other crashed on the building'sroof.

Longueuil police said the pilots of both planes were flying alone.

Weather conditions were clear and the cause of the crash is under investigation.

"Right now we have investigators at the scene who are trying to verify all hypotheses," Colagiacomo said.

"We're checking everything out to find out what caused this accident first of all."

Canada's Transportation Safety Board confirmed that thetwoplanes belongtoCargair,a flight and pilot training school based in nearbySaint-Hubert. The companydeclined an interview request when contacted by CBC News.

Cargairreleased a statement Friday afternoon that said it was co-operating with investigators from the TSB.

TSB on the scene

Investigators from the TSB arrivedon the site of the crash Friday evening. To begin their investigation, they're photographing the wreckage and interviewing witnesses, said Regional Senior Investigator Isabelle Langevin.

Langevinsaid this is the first time she's investigated a collision where two planes crashed mid-air and landed neara populated area.

During a Friday night news conference, she said the TSB is working to get answers for the families of the people affected by the accident.

"The TSBinvestigation team is mindful of the survivor and the family who lost a love one," Langevin said.

After investigators finish speaking with witnesses and photographing the scene, the wreckage will be transportedto Ottawa for further investigation. Langevin could not speculate on how long the investigation will take.

'It all happened so fast'

One eyewitness, Carol Pelchat, said she came out of a store and heard two planes overhead.

"I looked up and one of them was making a strange sound," she said.

"I saw them hit and a wing came off one of the planes, which started to spiral, and the other plane crashed."

"It all happened so fast."

Pelchat, who works as a nurse, ran over to the site only to find that police had already arrived.

"They said there was nothing to do,it was too late," she said.

'I saw him fall towards the ground': Eyewitness describes Saint-Bruno plane crash

8 years ago

Duration 0:47

Jonathan Littler, 21, was working at a Canadian Tire in Saint-Bruno when one of the two planes landed in the mall's parking lot. He shares what he saw.

Another witness, Patricia Bon, told CBC thatshe heard "a loud boom."

"And then a person screamed at the top of their lungsto go outside right away.I saw a plane that was completely crushed."

Both planes weredoused with a fire retardantto prevent them from catching fire.

Police saida large perimeter has been set upand they are asking people to avoid the area located at the junction of highways 116 and 30.They are asking witnesses to go to the Cage aux Sports restaurant to speak to police.

The shopping centre is closed and will remain closed Saturday.