3 dead in plane crash near Kangirsuk, northern Quebec
Piper PA-23 Aztec aircraft was found 2.4 km from the Kangirsuk airport Friday morning
Three people are confirmed dead after a small private plane crashed near the community of Kangirsuk in northern Quebec.
The Canadian Forces Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre at CFB Trenton dispatched aircraft to the scene upon receiving an emergency locator transmitter message Thursday night at 11:30. Kativik Regional Police were alerted to the crash Friday morning by JRCC Trenton officials.
Thursday night was foggy, Kangirsuk Mayor Elijah Grey told CBC News. Grey says the plane appears to have broken into many pieces on impact.
JRCC told CBC that emergency locator transmitter messages can be sent out either manually or automatically on forward impact.
Transportation Safety Board of Canada spokesperson John Cottreau confirmed that the aircraft was a Piper PA-23 Aztec, a small, twin-engine plane. Officials at JRCC told CBC that the aircraft was not on a flight plan.
Cottreau said that the Transportation Safety Board is currently considering whether or not to do a full investigation of the crash, and said that he is hoping to reach a decision within 72 hours.
A search party was able to locate the plane 2.4 kilometres northwest of Kangirsuk.
Police believe the crash occurred Thursday night, and have confirmed that none of the passengers on board the plane survived.