RCAF to conduct helicopter flypast over LeBreton Flats to mark Canada-Morocco World Cup match

A Canadian Armed Forces Chinook helicopter hovers as a WestJet airplane passes by while dignitaries arrive in Calgary, Sunday, June 15, 2025, to attend the G7 Leaders meeting taking place in the nearby community of Kananaskis. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

The Royal Canadian Air Force will be conducting a special flypast in Ottawa to mark Canada’s pivotal soccer match against Morocco in the FIFA World Cup on Saturday.

Up to 20,000 people are set to gather for a watch party at LeBreton Flats for the start of the Round of 16 match at 1 p.m.

An RCAF CH-147F Chinook helicopter from 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron will be conducting a flypast over LeBreton Flats between 12:55 and 1 p.m. ET.

“This flypast is meant to highlight and support this community gathering as it recognizes a momentous global sporting event. It also celebrates Canada’s progress in the World Cup,” the RCAF said in a news release.

The RCAF says the aircraft will not fly lower than 500 feet above the highest obstacle along its route. All flypasts are weather dependent.

Canadian, American air forces to conduct flypast for Fourth of July

The RCAF and U.S. air force will hold a joint flypast over Ottawa later in the evening to mark the Fourth of July and the 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The ceremonial flypast is scheduled for around 6:30 p.m. ET Saturday and involves two Canadian CF-18 Hornets flying alongside a pair of American F-35 Lightning II jets.

The flypast is scheduled to fly over the annual Fourth of July party at the official residence of the U.S. ambassador.

The Defence Department says it’s meant to demonstrate the way the two countries routinely work together in the air as part of NORAD, the binational continental defence command.

With files from The Canadian Press

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