FORT SMITH, Northwest Territories – A tragic plane crash occurred on Tuesday, resulting in fatalities, according to the Northwest Territories coroner. The exact number of casualties was not disclosed.
Some of the passengers onboard the plane were employees of the global mining company, Rio Tinto. The company did not confirm the number of workers on the plane, but noted that the crash occurred while the aircraft was en route to a company diamond mine.
In response to the crash, the Fort Smith Health Centre activated its mass casualty protocol. The incident also prompted involvement from the Royal Canadian Mounted Patrol, the Canadian Rangers, and the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Investigators from the Northwest Territories coroner’s office and the Transportation Safety Board were dispatched to Fort Smith. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada confirmed that it is investigating the crash, which involved a British Aerospace Jetstream registered to Northwestern Air Lease.
Premier RJ Simpson of the Northwest Territories expressed condolences to the families and loved ones of those onboard the aircraft, urging affected residents to seek support and utilize mental health resources provided by the government.
The Canadian Rangers and the Royal Canadian Air Force responded to a report of lost contact with an aircraft outside of Fort Smith. Poor visibility in the early hours of Tuesday morning improved by mid-morning, according to sources.
Ground searches were also conducted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canadian Rangers. The authorities are working diligently to investigate the tragic incident.