Local Community Advertising
(UPDATE: 10 a.m. on Monday) - Three men who died in a small plane crash northeast of Smithers, B.C., on Saturday were part of a crew contracted by the BC Wildfire Service to do aerial imaging.
Kevin Skrepnek, B.C.’s chief fire information officer, says in a statement that thoughts and sympathies go to the families and friends of those involved.
RCMP Sgt. Darren Durnin says the crash site was located by helicopter search crews in Babine River Corridor Provincial Park and a conscious male passenger was seen outside the plane, but the landscape made it impossible to get him out.
Durnin says in a statement that a rescue technician was lowered at another location and walked to the site where it was discovered a pilot and two passengers had died.
The survivor was rescued by helicopter using a long line, then transported to medical care and police say he is in stable condition.
The statement says the bodies of the three men who didn’t survive have been recovered and both the BC Coroners Service and Transportation Safety Board are investigating.
(UPDATE: 3:30 p.m) - Andy Watson, the spokesman for the BC Coroners Service has confirmed that of the four that were aboard the downed Cessna 182 plane, three are dead.
The pilot and two of the passengers are dead and an investigation of the deceased is in progress, the BC Coroners Service said in a statement.
The fourth occupant of the plane survived and has been taken to a Vancouver hospital.
A team of investigators are on-site gathering information and evidence to try and determine the cause of the crash.
(UPDATE: May 5 @ 12:35 p.m.) - Four people were involved in the plane crash which occurred approximately 100-km northeast of Smithers, the Transportation and Safety Board confirmed, one of which has been confirmed dead.
There was one pilot and three passengers aboard the plane.
The Cessna 182 plane sent out a transmission from its emergency locator on Saturday, which was responded to by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre.
(Original: May 4 @ 6:15 p.m.)
RCMP say at least one person is dead as a result of a plane crash in Smithers which is currently under investigation.
On Saturday, the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre was notified by an emergency locator transmitter that a small plane had gone down.
At 0845 this morning (4 May) @VicJRCC_CCCOS received a distress notification from an ELT registered to a Cessna 182 about 50nm north of Smithers Landing.
— Victoria JRCC CCCOS (@VicJRCC_CCCOS) May 4, 2019
A crash site has been located and search and rescue efforts are underway.
Please visit https://t.co/mVqTCoUw04 for details pic.twitter.com/AbBMqtPqHM
Lt. Tony Wright says a search was launched and the wreckage of the Cessna 182 was found about 100 kilometres northeast of Smithers.
The plane model, a Cessna 182, is capable of carrying four passengers.
Wright says that a technician was lowered from the helicopter by cable to search for survivors. The mission was handed over to police.
SAR Techs have been inserted into the crash site of a small plane north of Smithers. Details about the persons on board and their condition are not available at this time. @RCAF_ARC assets have completed their mission and the case has been turned over to the @rcmpgrcpolice
— Victoria JRCC CCCOS (@VicJRCC_CCCOS) May 4, 2019
RCMP Cpl. Madonna Saunderson confirmed there had been one fatality but continued to scour the crash site to find and retrieve any remaining occupants.
Saunderson said the coroner and Transportation Safety Board have been notified about the crash.
Edit: A previous version of the story claimed all four people involved had died. Information received from CP was incorrect at that time but has been revised to reflect true information.
With files from The Canadian Press
Local Community Advertising