Three bodies have been recovered and the search is on for the remaining four people on board an Air Saguenay aircraft that crashed yesterday on Mistastin Lake in Labrador.
The de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver with seven people on board, was reported overdue last night.
The wreckage was located in the lake early this morning. A Canadian Armed Forces CH-149 Cormorant arrived on the scene around 11:30 a.m. to search for possible survivors. As well, a CH-146 Griffon helicopter was dispatched from 5 Wing Goose Bay early this afternoon to aid in the effort.
The plane was carrying a pilot, two guides and four passengers for a fishing trip on Mistastin Lake, a popular, but remote fishing location, famous for its Arctic char.
President of Air Saguenay, Jean Tremblay says it’s not clear if the crash occurred on take off, or landing.
He says three bodies have been found and the search is on for the four other people who were on board the aircraft.
Search and Rescue crews will remain on the scene while daylight remains, after which things will be handed over to the RCMP as a missing persons case.
The next of kin for the seven people on board the aircraft have been notified, no further information about their identities will be released.
The Transportation Safety Board is investigating.
Earlier Story:
Fatalities are being reported as the result of a plane crash in Mistastin Lake in northern Labrador.
The aircraft was carrying seven people: a pilot, two guides and four passengers.
The plane, a de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver was en route to a remote fishing camp in Labrador when it was reported overdue last night.
It had departed a fishing lodge at Crossroads Lake, 60 miles east of Schefferville, yesterday morning and was reported overdue in the evening.
Major Mark Gough says the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax dispatched a Hercules to the scene, which verified the crash site this morning.
Mistastin Lake is an ancient crater site in remote Labrador with an island in the centre. The lake is famous for its Arctic Char, but depending on wind conditions can be very choppy.
The Canadian Transport Safety Board has been contacted and will launch an investigation.