FORT SMITH, NWT – A tragic incident occurred as a small plane carrying Rio Tinto workers crashed on its way to a diamond mine in Canada. The mining giant confirmed the crash near Fort Smith in the country’s Northwest Territories, stating that there were fatalities. The number of people on board and the nationalities of the victims are still being assessed.
Rio Tinto’s chief executive, Jakob Stausholm, expressed deep sympathy for the families and loved ones affected by the tragedy. He mentioned that the company is devastated by the news and is providing full support to the employees and the grieving community.
The plane was en route to Rio Tinto’s Diavik Diamond Mine when tragedy struck. Premier RJ Simpson of the Northwest Territories also offered condolences to the families affected by the crash, acknowledging the impact of the incident across the territory.
Chief coroner of the Northwest Territories, Garth Eggenberger, confirmed there were fatalities in the crash, and further details are expected once next of kin have been notified.
A team of investigators has been deployed to look into the accident involving a BAE Jetstream aircraft, with Canadian authorities gathering information to determine the cause of the tragedy. This follows a helicopter crash in neighboring British Columbia that resulted in three fatalities and four serious injuries the day before.
The Royal Canadian Air Force, along with Canadian Armed Forces personnel, supported search and rescue efforts for the crashed plane, which was found near the Slave River after losing contact shortly after take-off.
The crash has cast a shadow over the mining industry, as authorities and the community grapple with the repercussions of this devastating event.