What Happened To | Joe Mcbryan Patched
, remains an active and influential figure in the aviation industry, though his role has evolved as the airline adapts to modern regulations and fleet changes. Known affectionately as "Buffalo Joe," he became a household name through the reality TV series Ice Pilots NWT
: The airline resumed flying in early 2016. While Joe relinquished his administrative presidency, he never stopped flying . 2. A Generational Shift at Buffalo Airways
By mid-December 2020, Joe’s condition deteriorated rapidly. He was admitted to Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife. Within days, he was transferred to the , which has a specialized unit for severe respiratory illness.
He is focused on training the next generation of northern pilots to fight wildfires, using a fleet of Air Tractor AT-802 aircraft and a high-tech flight simulator.
While Joe’s heart belongs to vintage piston-driven aircraft, the company has integrated newer technology. They recently added a jet-engine Boeing 737-300 freighter to their fleet to handle larger cargo volumes more efficiently. what happened to joe mcbryan
In late 2025, misinformation regarding Joe McBryan’s health circulated online. These rumors were strongly countered by his son, Mikey McBryan, who acts as the Director of Operations for Buffalo Airways.
: In March 2026, McBryan faced a 10-day license suspension related to an incident involving low-visibility flying two years prior. He used the time to visit a founding member of the airline in Victoria, BC, viewing it as a rare period of forced time off. Legacy and Ongoing Operations
In one of the strangest chapters, Mark Owens (the same man who embezzled from Joe) was also convicted of plotting to murder Joe McBryan . Owens tried to hire a hitman to kill Joe so he could avoid being caught for the theft. The "hitman" turned out to be a police informant. Owens was arrested and sentenced to over five years in prison.
To get the airline back in the air, a condition was set that Joe McBryan would step away from the day-to-day management of the airline. , remains an active and influential figure in
For fans of the long-running reality TV show Ice Pilots NWT and admirers of Canadian aviation history, few figures loom as large as Joe McBryan, affectionately known as "Buffalo Joe." As the founder and president of Buffalo Airways, based out of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, McBryan became a household name for his uncompromising, old-school approach to flying, his passion for vintage World War II-era aircraft, and his often-fraught relationship with regulators.
: Joe continues to serve as the President of Buffalo Airways, the company he founded in 1970. While his sons, Mikey and Rod McBryan, have taken on significant leadership and promotional roles, Joe remains the "old school" heart of the company. The Transport Canada Conflict
(current restoration projects)
"Buffalo Joe" proved that you can take the pilot away from the daily flight roster, but you cannot take the spirit of adventure away from the person who built an empire in the frozen north. If you are interested in more, I can: Detail the specific aircraft in the Buffalo Airways fleet. Provide information on the "Plane Savers" series. Explain the history of the DC-3 aircraft. Let me know how you'd like to . Share public link Within days, he was transferred to the ,
For many fans, this marked the end of the "Buffalo Joe" era where he was the sole, authoritative figure in every aspect of the airline. 3. What Happened to Joe McBryan Post-Management?
When fans ask "what happened to Joe McBryan," the answer is a story of resilience. He survived the brutal realities of Arctic flying, thrived as a television icon, weathered a career-threatening regulatory crisis, and emerged to reinvent himself as a champion for a new era of aviation safety.
My father, Buffalo Joe McBryan, is hopping on the King Air today.
: Joe became famous for his gruff, no-nonsense leadership style, his fierce loyalty to his pilots, and his deep refusal to give up on historic aircraft.