The southeast flank of the Fort Simpson wildfire, designated as FS016 by the government of the Northwest Territories, is seen in a Sunday, June 28, 2026, handout photo published to social media. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - NWT Fire (Mandatory Credit)
Veteran pilot killed fighting N.W.T. wildfire was a trusted leader and patient mentor
Jul 11, 2026 | 10:20 AM
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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.
