FORT SMITH, Northwest Territories – A small plane carrying workers to Rio Tinto’s Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada has crashed, resulting in fatalities. The mining giant confirmed that the plane went down near Fort Smith, and the number of people on board, as well as whether any Australians were among the casualties, is still being assessed.
Rio Tinto’s chief executive, Jakob Stausholm, expressed the company’s deepest sympathy to the families and friends of those affected by the tragedy and stated that the company is devastated by the news. The company is offering full support to its employees and the grieving community.
The British-Australian multinational is working with authorities to assess the cause of the crash, which has deeply impacted the community. The workers aboard the plane were not just passengers, but also neighbors, colleagues, friends, and loved ones, according to RJ Simpson, the premier of the Northwest Territories.
The chief coroner of Northwest Territories, Garth Eggenberger, confirmed that there were fatalities, and further details are expected to be released once the next of kin have been notified.
The Royal Canadian Air Force conducted search and rescue efforts for the aircraft, and a team of investigators has been deployed to look into the accident. The crash comes a day after a helicopter crash in neighboring British Columbia claimed the lives of three people and left four others seriously injured.
This tragedy highlights the risks faced by workers in the mining industry and the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of those who travel to remote work sites. The full impact of the crash is felt not only in the Northwest Territories but also across the entire community.