The MP for the Kamloops-Thompson Cariboo Cathy McLeod was as shocked as everyone to hear about the passing of Sub-Lt. Abbigail Cowbrough, who was on the military helicopter that crashed yesterday in the Mediterranean.

Just six days ago, the 23-year-old Cowbrough had united Canadians by playing Amazing Grace on the bagpipes to honour the 22 victims of a shooting rampage in Nova Scotia that happened earlier this year.

She was one of six people on board the Cyclone helicopter that went down, which was being used as part of a NATO operation. Further circumstances of the crash are not yet clear.

“I woke up to the story of that beautiful, young member of the CAF who played bagpipes on Friday for the Nova Scotia vigil, and certainly I think I join all Canadians in just saying this has been such an awful year, and such a tragic year so far. But I also think of the phoenix, and knowing we will find our way through this,” McLeod tells NL News.

McLeod says it’s too soon to say what this crash could mean for military operations, saying the priority right now is to find the other five people who were on board.

Family members of Cowbrough were quick to offer their words on social media of her passing, including her step father Shane and mother Tanya.