Quebec provincial police are searching for two prisoners and an accomplice after they escaped from a Saint-Jérôme, Que. jail in a helicopter, according to Radio-Canada.

Saint-Jérôme

Authorities say the prison break took place around 2:30 p.m. ET.

The helicopter hovered over the building and the escapees climbed on board with the help of a rope ladder, Radio-Canada reporter Jean-Philippe Ouimet said.

Police are refusing to reveal the identities of the two runaways.

Authorities say the escapees flew to a wooded area near Entrelacs, a few kilometres northeast of Saint-Jérôme.

Radio-Canada reports the search is taking place near Argile Lake. Police have set up a perimetre around the area and are asking for reinforcements from other police forces.

The Sûreté du Québec said they have found the helicopter and were interviewing the pilot.

The pilot was taken to hospital to be treated for shock, Radio-Canada said.

No arrests have been made in the case so far.

The Saint-Jérôme detention centre, located some 60 kilometres northwest of Montreal, experienced a mini-riot by about a dozen prisoners a little over a month ago.

In that incident, police had been asked to secure the outside of the prison, which holds about 480 inmates, and facility staff used pepper spray to disperse the mob.

With files from The Canadian Press