FORT SMITH, Northwest Territories – A tragic plane crash occurred on Tuesday, resulting in fatalities, according to the Northwest Territories coroner. The specific number of casualties was not disclosed. Among the passengers were employees of Rio Tinto, a global mining company, although the company did not confirm the number of workers on the plane. The crash occurred as the aircraft was en route to a company diamond mine.
Following the crash, the Fort Smith Health Centre activated its mass casualty protocol, and several authorities, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Patrol, the Canadian Rangers, and the Royal Canadian Air Force, responded to the incident. Additionally, investigators from the Northwest Territories coroner’s office and the Transportation Safety Board were dispatched to Fort Smith to look into the crash.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is conducting an investigation into the crash of the British Aerospace Jetstream aircraft, registered to Northwestern Air Lease. The plane has a capacity of carrying up to 19 passengers.
Northwest Territories Premier RJ Simpson expressed his deepest condolences to the families and friends of those on board the plane and urged affected residents to seek support and utilize mental health resources provided by the government. The impact of the incident has been deeply felt across the territory, affecting not just passengers but also the broader community.
On the day of the crash, the Canadian Rangers and the Royal Canadian Air Force responded to reports of an aircraft losing contact outside of Fort Smith. Poor visibility was reported in the early hours of the morning but improved by 10 am, according to CNN’s weather team. Ground searches were also conducted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Canadian Rangers, adding to the response efforts.
The Northwest Territories coroner did not release the specific number of casualties, pending notification of next of kin. The crash has had a far-reaching impact, and support services are being mobilized to help those affected cope with the tragedy.
