ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — RCMP officers with the underwater recovery team, Labrador general investigation section, and air services, along with ground search and rescue from Nain, arrived Friday at the site of the plane crash in Mistastin Lake that occurred on Monday.
Three people are confirmed dead as a result of the crash, and four others are missing.
The team of police divers, investigators, and search and rescue personnel were prepared to be at the scene on Thursday but high wind and heavy rain prevented air travel. Mistastin Lake is located in a remote area of Labrador, approximately 100 kilometres southwest of Nain, and is accessible only by air.
The investigation was handed over to RCMP Newfoundland and Labrador late Tuesday from the Maritime Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre, which identified the site of the crash and recovered three bodies in the area of the wreckage.
Extensive planning of logistics by the RCMP has occurred and is particularly crucial given the remoteness of the location, weather unpredictability and the need to transport personnel, specialized equipment — such as side-scan sonar — and boats to the site by air.
The goal of the operation is to locate the remaining four occupants of the plane.
General information about the seven occupants is: pilot, a 66-year-old man from Quebec (missing); guide, a 50-year-old man from Newfoundland and Labrador (missing); guide, a 47-year-old man from Newfoundland and Labrador (located, deceased); passenger, a 67-year-old man from New Jersey (located, deceased); passenger, a 66-year-old man from Illinois (located, deceased); passenger, a 40-year-old man from Indiana (missing); passenger, a 38-year-old man from Illinois (missing).
The plane, a de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver, departed a fishing lodge at Crossroads Lake, east of Schefferville, Que., on Monday morning and was heading to a remote fishing camp on Mistastin Lake in northern Labrador. The plane was reported overdue late Monday night, after it failed to return by 7 p.m. as expected. It is unknown if the plane crashed en route to the fishing camp or during its return.
The cause of the crash is not known and will be investigated by the Canadian Transportation Safety Board.
telegram@thetelegram.com
