Tragic Crash Near Ottawa: Six Dead in Commuter Plane Accident Carrying Mine Workers
Tragedy struck near Ottawa, Canada, as a small commuter plane, transporting mine workers to Canada’s far north, crashed shortly after takeoff on Tuesday, resulting in the loss of six lives, according to a source familiar with the crash investigation. The identity of the source was kept confidential as they lacked authorization to speak to the media. Miraculously, one person survived the crash, although details regarding their condition were not disclosed.
The Northwest Territories witnessed the unfortunate incident, prompting a swift response from the military and federal police. Canadian Rangers, utilizing snowmobiles, located the wreckage, while search and rescue technicians descended from a Hercules aircraft to assist in the aftermath.
The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Trenton, Ontario, reported that communication with the plane was lost shortly after its departure at approximately 8:50 am local time from Fort Smith, situated 320 kilometers (200 miles) southwest of the regional capital, Yellowknife. The town’s hospital activated its mass casualty protocol, and Chief Coroner Garth Eggerberger of the Arctic territory confirmed the presence of fatalities without providing further details.
The Jetstream twin-turboprop airliner, operated by Northwestern Air, was on a charter flight carrying mine workers when it crashed just 1.1 kilometers (0.7 miles) from the end of the runway. In response to the incident, all flights departing from Fort Smith have been temporarily grounded, with operations set to resume on Wednesday. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and authorities are working diligently to ascertain the circumstances leading to this tragic event.
