ST. JOHN’S — Officials say a small sea plane crashed into the woods while trying to land on water near St. John’s, N.L., on Saturday night.

Jeff Hatcher, a platoon chief with the St. John’s Regional Fire Department, says the Merlin GT plane lost power as it was trying to land on Paddy’s Pond, which is about 15 kilometres southwest of downtown St. John’s.

Hatcher says the plane went down just after 7 p.m. and the two men on board managed to get out of the wreck by the time first responders arrived.

One man was able to walk out of the woods to the highway, where an ambulance was waiting, and the other needed help from a helicopter.

Hatcher says both were taken to hospital, neither with serious injuries.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary says the Transportation Safety Board of Canada is investigating.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 23, 2026.

The Canadian Press