One person was killed and several others were injured when a small plane carrying ten people crashed in western Canada, officials said.
The accident involving a Beech King Air 100 operated by Kenn Borek Air happened at around 11.20 a.m. local time, according to Sgt. Tim Taniguchi of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The plane went down at the Kirby Lake airstrip located southeast of the municipality of Conklin, a hamlet in northern Alberta province.
“Initial reports have advised that a 10 passenger twin engine plane activated its emergency beacon at approximable 11:20 AM and preformed a crash landing into the muskeg,” Taniguchi said. “The plane was traveling from Edmonton to the Kirby Lake airstrip.”
Taniguchi said the plane was in the process of landing at the time, but both he and Transport Canada said the cause of the crash was not immediately known.
The 911 dispatch center received a call at 11:37 a.m. and dispatched two Emergency Medical Services units from the Cenovous Energy plant. All available search and rescue units from Conklin, four ambulances and one fire truck from the City of Fort McMurray, as well as the STARS medivac from Fort McMurray were dispatched.
A National Search and Rescue team from Winnipeg was also dispatched to the crash site, and arrived there on board a Hercules aircraft.
“Initial reports indicate that 10 persons were on board the plane,” Taniguchi added. “All ten people on board have sustained injuries. It can be confirmed at this time there has been one fatality.”
Two of the injured were transported to Fort McMurray, while two others were flown to Edmonton. The rest of the victims were treated at the scene and were eventually transported to Edmonton.
“The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) has been notified, as that is the agency responsible for investigations of aviation accidents,” said Melanie Orlowski, Regional Communications Officer for Transport Canada. “Transport Canada will cooperate fully with the TSB to provide any information required to assist in their investigation.”
