Veteran pilot killed fighting N.W.T. wildfire was a trusted leader and patient mentor

A veteran pilot killed last month in a plane crash while fighting a wildfire in the Northwest Territories is being remembered as an expert in his field who kept a cool head under stress.

Buffalo Airways says Robert MacLeod made significant contributions to aerial firefighting across the country in a career than spanned more than 25 years.

The company’s Facebook post says MacLeod was a Buffalo Airways bird dog captain for the past three seasons, where he worked with territorial and provincial wildfire agencies.

Before that, MacLeod was a bird dog and waterbomber pilot in New Brunswick.

The post says MacLeod was also a medevac captain and a flight instructor known for being a “patient mentor and dependable teammate.”

Macleod and two firefighters were on board a Turbo Commander 690 that crashed near Fort Simpson, N.W.T., west of Yellowknife, on June 24 while it was providing tactical support for a water bomber.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 11, 2026.

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