Police have revealed some new details regarding the five victims of a fatal plane crash that took place near the Red Lake Airport Sunday evening.
Officials with the OPP say the victims include the two pilots, a 25-year-old man from Mississauga and a 34-year-old man from Winnipeg. The deceased passengers include a 53-year-old woman a 53-year-old man and a 64-year-old woman, all from Red Lake
Police earlier confirmed that a plane went down at about 6:30 p.m. CST Sunday evening prior to landing at the airport. Names of the deceased are being withheld until next of kin are notified.
The OPP said the plane was a Bearskin Airlines flight that originated from Sioux Lookout.
The Transportation Safety Board and police did not immediately confirm the type of plane that crashed, but Bearskin's website indicates it operates only one model, the Fairchild Metroliner, a twin turboprop that can seat 19 passengers.
Bearskin is based in Sioux Lookout, Ont. and has operated since 1963, employing 300 people in Ontario and Manitoba. Red Lake is located 268 kilometres north of Kenora.
The small airline services 18 destinations in Ontario and Manitoba.
It's not the first time a Bearskin plane has crashed. In May, 1995 one of the airline's planes collided with a Piper Navajo near the Sioux Lookout airport, killing all eight people on board the two aircraft.
The OPP sergeant on duty in Red Lake, who did not give a name, said the plane may have hit power lines on the way down, but could not comment on any power outages in the municipality.
The Transportation Safety Board said via Twitter they are dispatching investigators to the scene, and the OPP will remain on scene to provide assistance.
Bearskin executive vice-president Cliff Friesen said it's going to be a hard time for the airline, its employees and family members.
"It's devastating to all of us," he said. "We're doing whatever we can to assist the families and also our employees as well."
While the company does have people at the site to assist with an investigation, Friesen said very little is known about the crash or what happened.
The airlines other flights continued Monday.
"There are a lot of people who depend on us for transportation so it's business as usual for us," he said.
It's the first fatal crash for the airline since 1995.
Red Lake mayor Phil Vinet said the tragedy has hit the town of 4,300 hard.
It's the second fatal plane crash this year after a float plane went down near the Bruce Channel in May, taking the lives of two people.
"It sends shock waves right through. I can only imagine that every Red Laker this morning has awoken with a heavy heart," he said.
Vinet was at the scene of the crash near Hwy 125 until midnight. Red Lake senior staff were debriefed Sunday night but like everyone else, he's waiting for information from the OPP and the Transportation Safety Board.
Until then the community will host its Remembrance Day ceremony, which will take on a much more solemn tone as the tragedy is top of mind for those in mourning Vinet said.
