Investigation Summary
The plot was initiated by Albert Guay, a jeweler from Quebec City, who sought to eliminate his wife, Rita, to marry his mistress, Marie-Ange Robitaille. Guay recruited two accomplices: Généreux Ruest, a clockmaker who constructed the timing mechanism, and Marguerite Pitre, Ruest's sister, who purchased the explosives and delivered the bomb to the airport. Pitre acquired 20 half-pound sticks of dynamite, 15 detonating caps, and 30 feet of fuse from a hardware store using a false name. On the day of the flight, Guay purchased a $10,000 insurance policy on his wife's life. The bomb was placed in a suitcase and delivered by Pitre to the Quebec City airport (L'Ancienne-Lorette) during the flight's scheduled stopover. Guay's plan relied on the aircraft being over the Saint Lawrence River at the time of detonation, which would have likely resulted in the loss of the wreckage and forensic evidence. However, the flight departed five minutes behind schedule. When the bomb detonated, the aircraft was instead over the rugged terrain of Cap Tourmente. The recovery of the wreckage on land allowed investigators to quickly identify the presence of explosives. Crucially, the aircraft did not burst into flames upon impact; the lack of a post-impact fire helped investigators isolate the baggage compartment as the site of the pre-impact explosion.
Final Conclusions
The investigation concluded that the crash was the result of a deliberate act of sabotage. Albert Guay was convicted of murder on 14 March 1950 and executed by hanging on 12 January 1951. His accomplices, Généreux Ruest and Marguerite Pitre, were also subsequently convicted and executed in 1952 and 1953, respectively. Pitre was the last woman to be judicially hanged in Canada.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Systems & Failure Modes
Explosive Device
A homemade time bomb consisting of 20 half-pound sticks of dynamite triggered by a clockwork mechanism.
Baggage Handling
The bomb was introduced into the aircraft's cargo hold via a suitcase checked in as passenger luggage by Marguerite Pitre.
Interesting Facts
- 01The bombing was the second attack against civil aviation in North American history, following the 1933 bombing of United Air Lines Trip 23.
- 02A five-minute takeoff delay saved the investigation by causing the plane to crash on land instead of in the Saint Lawrence River.
- 03Three of the victims were the president, president-designate, and vice-president of the Kennecott Copper Corporation.
- 04The timing mechanism for the bomb was manufactured by a clockmaker, Généreux Ruest.
- 05Albert Guay's last words before execution were, 'At least I die famous.'
- 06The aircraft did not burst into flames upon impact, which allowed investigators to identify the specific area of the pre-impact explosion.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Criminal Prosecution
The successful investigation and execution of the three conspirators served as a deterrent and highlighted the need for increased scrutiny of air cargo and passenger baggage.