What Happened To Joe Mcbryan May 2026
His story also served as a stark warning to the remote northern communities he served. After his recovery, Joe became a reluctant advocate for vaccinations, telling The Globe and Mail : “I didn't get the shot fast enough. Don't be stupid like me. This thing wants to kill you.” To close the loop on the search query "what happened to Joe McBryan": He did not die. He did not retire to Florida. He is still in Yellowknife, likely yelling at someone about a radial engine.
If you want to see him in action, new episodes of the revived Ice Pilots specials occasionally feature him in the hangar—just don’t expect to see him in the cockpit. | Question | Answer | | :--- | :--- | | Did Joe McBryan die from COVID? | No. He was critically ill but survived. | | When was he hospitalized? | December 2020. | | Was he on a ventilator? | Yes, for several weeks. | | Can he still fly? | No, he no longer holds a commercial pilot medical certificate. | | Is Buffalo Airways still operating? | Yes, run by his son Mikey McBryan. | | Where is Joe McBryan now? | Living in Yellowknife, NWT, overseeing his company. | what happened to joe mcbryan
The most dramatic moment came in . His son, Mikey McBryan (also a star of Ice Pilots ), posted a video to Instagram and Facebook showing Joe walking out of the Royal Alexandra Hospital under his own power. Leaning on a walker and wearing a yellow Buffalo Airways hoodie, Joe looked gaunt but defiant. His story also served as a stark warning
In the video, with his characteristic dry wit, Joe said: “I’m not dead yet. It’s going to take more than a bug to stop me.” This thing wants to kill you
According to family statements and official Buffalo Airways press releases, Joe McBryan contracted . However, it was not a simple case. At 75 years old, with underlying health conditions common to men of his age and lifestyle (including complications from a lifetime of aviation stress and, reportedly, diabetes), the virus hit him exceptionally hard. The Hospitalization 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 Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta , which has a specialized unit for severe respiratory illness.
For fans of the hit reality TV series Ice Pilots NWT , few names are as iconic as Joe McBryan. Known affectionately as "Buffalo Joe," the straight-talking, no-nonsense founder of Buffalo Airways became a cult hero for his vintage aircraft, his fiery temper, and his deep commitment to keeping World War II-era DC-3s and DC-4s flying in the Canadian Arctic.