Charter jet crashes in Canadian arctic killing 12
 

A Boeing 737 charter jet has crashed in Canada's Arctic region, killing 12 people and injuring three others.

The First Air flight was travelling from Yellowknife to Resolute Bay, when it came down not far from its destination.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said 15 people had been on board the flight, including four crew members.

Canadian troops are currently in the area on operational exercises and were able to assist in the rescue effort.

The plane crashed shortly before 1300 local time (1800 GMT) on Saturday, local police said.

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/5...aresolute0.gif

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14605410

Note: 21 August 2011 Last updated at 00:26 GMT

The crash occurred near an area where a CF battle group was exercising Arctic Sovereignty and ironically, emergency response to an air disaster in the region.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/...air-crash.html

First Air has had an excellent safety record on some of the most difficult commercial air routes in the world. RIP to the victims and condolences to the survivors.

How very tragic :nope:

My lad sailed in that area just two or three months ago and he informs me it can be quite desolate at times.

Yeah, I used to see the First Air jets come in and out all the time when I lived in Ottawa. Sturdy birds, but rather old (737-200). I wonder what went wrong - but it's sad either way :(

Here's an update. The survivors have been flown to Ottawa.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/...ane-crash.html

Never made to Resolute, the arctic exercises that I participated in were always near Hay River or Cambridge Bay.