Officials reported that six people perished in the crash of an aircraft carrying laborers to a Rio Tinto diamond mine in Canada’s Northwest Territories.
Shortly after takeoff, the small Jetstream aircraft that belonged to the company crashed on its way to the Diavik mine.
One survivor was flown to a Yellowknife hospital via airlift, according to the coroner’s office for the Northwest Territories.
As the authorities look into the crash, Rio Tinto stated that it is collaborating closely with them.
In a statement, Rio Tinto CEO Jakob Stausholm said, “We are absolutely devastated by this news.”
The Northwest Territories coroner’s office said in a statement on Wednesday that two of the fatalities were crew members and four of the victims were passengers on Northwestern Air.
Approximately 740 kilometers south of Yellowknife and north of the Alberta border, the small town of Fort Smith is where the plane crashed.
The aircraft went down approximately 500 meters from the end of the runway at Fort Smith Regional Airport, according to Canadian public broadcaster CBC. Shortly after takeoff, according to Joint Rescue Coordination Center Trenton, contact with the aircraft was lost.
The Diavik Diamond Mine of Rio Tinto is situated roughly 300 kilometers northeast of Yellowknife. The company’s website states that it has been operational since 2003.
For the close-knit community, the incident has been “very devastating,” according to Dianna Korol, deputy mayor of Fort Smith.
According to Ms. Korol, “everyone has a little piece— or somebody that they know.”
Northwest Territories Premier RJ Simpson sent his sympathies to the friends and family of the deceased.
“This incident has an impact on the entire territory,” Mr. Simpson stated.
“The individuals we lost were not merely fellow travelers; they were loved ones, friends, neighbors, and coworkers. We won’t forget their tales or their contributions to our communities.”
The crash is being looked into by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada as well as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.