Four people were killed Saturday after a helicopter crashed and caught fire southeast of Montreal, Quebec provincial police said.

The helicopter crashed at about 2:30 p.m. local time (1830 GMT) near Sainte-Brigide-d'Iberville, according to the Sûreté du Québec.

First responders found the aircraft on fire when they arrived at the crash site. Police later confirmed that all four people aboard had died.

Authorities did not immediately release details about the identities of the victims or provide information about the helicopter's ownership, where it had originated or the purpose of the flight.

Canada's Transportation Safety Board said it was deploying investigators to examine the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The cause of the crash was not immediately known. Further details are expected as investigators begin examining the wreckage and gathering information from witnesses and authorities. (ILKHA)