FORT SMITH, Northwest Territories — A plane crash in Fort Smith resulted in fatalities on Tuesday, according to the Northwest Territories coroner, who did not specify the number of casualties.
Some of the passengers were employees at Rio Tinto, a global mining company, as stated in a group release. The exact number of workers from Rio Tinto on the plane was not confirmed, but the crash occurred while the aircraft was en route to a company diamond mine, according to CNN.
Northwest Territories Coroner Garth Eggenberger confirmed fatalities in the crash, while declining to release further details pending notification of next of kin. In response to the incident, the Fort Smith Health Centre activated its mass casualty protocol on Tuesday morning, with support from the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Patrol (RCMP), Canadian Rangers, and the Royal Canadian Air Force were all involved in the response to the crash, as reported by CNN. Additionally, the Northwest Territories coroner’s office and the Transportation Safety Board dispatched investigators to Fort Smith to investigate further.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is now investigating the crash, which involved a British Aerospace Jetstream registered to Northwestern Air Lease. This type of aircraft is capable of carrying up to 19 passengers, according to Northwestern Air Lease’s website via CNN.
Premier RJ Simpson extended his deepest condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of those aboard the plane, encouraging affected residents to seek government-provided mental health support. Simpson stressed the impact of the incident on the entire territory, acknowledging the personal connections and contributions of the individuals on board.
On the day of the crash, the Canadian Rangers and the Royal Canadian Air Force responded to a report of lost contact with the aircraft, as visibility was poor early in the morning but improved later in the day, according to CNN’s weather team. The RCMP and Canadian Rangers were also involved in ground searches.
The cause of the crash has not yet been determined, and investigations are ongoing.