Plane carrying Rio Tinto workers crashes in Canada’s northwest, 6 killed: Report

A small aircraft carrying workers to a remote mine crashed near Fort Smith in Canada’s remote Northwest Territories on Tuesday (local time), killing six people.

The plane was on its way to the Diavik diamond mine belonging to a mining firm, Rio Tinto. It was found near the Slave River when it lost contact with air traffic control after taking off near Fort Smith around 8:50 am (local time), news agency Reuters reported.

It was not immediately known what caused the crash.

The Northwestern Air Lease, the plane’s registered owner, said it has two types of British Aerospace Jetstream models in its fleet, both having a capacity of 19 passengers.

In a statement, Rio Tinto Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm said the company was devastated by the crash.

“We are working closely with the authorities and will help in any way we can with their efforts to find out exactly what has happened,” Stausholm said.

Three Royal Canadian Air Force squadrons were rushed to the site for rescue and search operations, Maxime Cliche, a public affairs officer with the Canadian Armed Forces, was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Northwest Territories Premier RJ Simpson extended his condolences to the families of those who died in the crash.

“It is with a heavy heart that I express my deepest condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of those who were aboard the Northwestern Air flight that crashed outside of Fort Smith today,” he said.

Chief coroner of Northwest Territories Garth Eggenberger confirmed the deaths but said that officials would not give further information until the family members were informed, according to Reuters.

Canada’s Transportation Safety Board said a team of investigators was sent to the site to probe into the crash.

The incident took place a day after three people died and four others were injured when their helicopter crashed in neighbouring British Columbia.