The TVA traffic helicopter went down around 7:30 a.m. ET Wednesday near the Bonaventure Expressway. (Paul Chiasson/Canadian Press)

The pilot of a Quebec news helicopter that crashed Wednesday morning in Montreal at the peak of rush hour is being hailed for his skill in preventing a worse outcome.

"I think they are both lucky and I think our pilot did a marvelous job," Serge Fortin TVA vice-president told reporters at a news conference. "I think just landing the chopper this morning … having both guys coming out alive, I think it's a miracle.

"It was great piloting, if I can say that. I'm not an expert, but from what I've been hearing, it was pretty amazing what he did."

The chopper, piloted by Antoine Léger and carrying journalist Réjean Léveillé, went down around 7:30 a.m. ET in a vacant lot near the service road on Montreal's Bonaventure Expressway, just west of the Victoria Bridge, in the city's south end.

The helicopter, used by Quebec television network TVA for traffic reporting, was making an emergency landing after a reported mechanical failure.

Jean-Marc Troquet, head of emergency at Montreal General Hospital, said both men suffered multiple fractures but are in stable condition.

Léveillé was trapped inside the wreckage for nearly an hour before firefighters were able to free him.

TVA reported that Léveillé was conscious the whole time and was kept warm with an emergency heat source while emergency workers untangled the debris.

Pilot Antoine Léger has flown professionally for 12 years. (CBC)

Léger was able to get out of the helicopter alone and was standing when rescue workers arrived. Both men were taken to Montreal General Hospital.

"They're both conscious, they're both aware of what's happening, they've both been given the results of the tests we've done so far," Troquet said. "They're both aware of what's going to happen in the next couple of hours and they're both happy to be alive."

Troquet also praised Leger for how he handled the emergency landing, saying the outcome could have been much more grim for both men, given cars were rushing along at the time, and the crash site was surrounded by buildings.

Fortin said their morale is good and the men's families are with them.

"Antoine and Réjean have been talking together," Fortin said. "And one of them said, 'since I'm here, let's get a shot for the flu.'"

TVA said Léger has flown helicopters professionally for about 12 years and alerted his dispatcher to a mechanical malfunction before making an emergency crash landing.

The helicopter, a Robinson R44 model, was refurbished this summer, according to the French-language network.

The crash site was about 700 metres from Mel's Studios, which has a helicopter landing strip. Mel's Studios is part of Montreal's Cité du Cinéma, a film production facility.

Fortin said he had no information about the cause of the accident.

The crash prompted transport officials to close the westbound lanes of the Bonaventure.

With files from The Canadian Press