Posted on 12/29/2023 5:59:47 AM PST by billorites
As of 11 a.m. Mountain Time today, rescue helicopters were expected to be en route to help extract occupants of a de Havilland Twin Otter twin turboprop on a private charter flight, operated by Air Tindi of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. The aircraft went down for unknown reasons on a frozen lake near its intended destination some 300 kilometers (162 nautical miles) northeast of Yellowknife, around noon yesterday (Dec. 27). All 10 on board, eight passengers and two crew members, survived, some with minor to “moderate to serious” injuries, later said to be possible broken bones.
Three rescue technicians parachuted from a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CC-130H Hercules to assist the occupants. The big four-engine turboprop circled for about an hour until weather abated enough for the three to jump around 7 p.m. MT last night. They brought shelter and medical supplies to treat the victims.
The cause of the downing remains unclear. Air Tindi President Chris Reynolds told reporters this morning that extreme winds and weather had hampered rescue efforts overnight. At 7:30 a.m. MT, he told Canadian news outlet Cabin Radio, “The best update I can give you is that the winds have come down significantly. They’re still strong, but the visibility has increased—much better than yesterday. At first light [approximately 10:15 a.m. MT], we’re launching helicopters from Yellowknife up there, and then coordinating with [Department of National Defence] getting everybody back here.”
Assistance also came from the Rio Tinto Corporation-owned diamond mine in nearby Diavik. A Rio Tinto spokesperson said the mine’s emergency response team reached the crash site on snowmobiles about 9 p.m. “They brought survival and medical equipment, provided assistance to the affected individuals and supported the Department of Defence’s search and rescue specialists,” the spokesperson told Cabin Radio in an email.
(Excerpt) Read more at avweb.com ...
First light is at 10:15 am. They are far north.
That is way up there, dang. Prayers up.
AVIATION PING!......................
Having 3 fit, can-do men with supplies show up to take charge of the situation and get everyone covered, treated, and warm has to be a wonderful improvement for the group.
Twin Otter=Flying Slug
Wow, nice and I’m sure very expensive aircraft. Obviously I am not really familiar with the twin Otter series, thinking more along the lines of the much older twin upgraded with turbine engines the DeHavilland Beaver. The number of people involved should be a clue as the Beaver doesn’t have so many seats.
Awaiting successful rescue and more information on what happened.
The diamond mine in Diavik. The diamonds were below a lake so the area was sealed off then emptied of water. How it was determined the diamonds were down there is an interesting tale.
Very few people go down in a Beaver.......................
Occasionally reading the article provides more information.
The update states all have reached the diamond mine. So It’s maybe half over but a very expensive aircraft remains at the site it went down at.
That will be a rescue effort that will also be interesting not to mention what went wrong with the aircraft or the flight.
The biggest diamond found in the mine . The passengers are now safe at that mine.
Great aircraft, I’m told…
My thoughts as well.
As screwed up as militaries in the West have become with wokeness and all that goes with it, those people whose specialty is rescuing people have to function on merit and ability.
No faking it.
“Great aircraft, I’m told…”
I flew into the interior of Nepal near Everest on one. A little village named Phuplu was out destination. We flew through a pass and the pilot went full flaps and pointed the nose straight down towards a postage stamp piece of grass. I’m a pilot but my butt was so tight................
Hahah…the old “… If you stuck a lump of coal up my rear end, it would come out a diamond…”!
I love watching the YouTube aviation videos that show pilots (like the ones down in Papua New Guinea), who fly into really odd situated airfields that are built in box canyons, and things like that.
Then when they pick up their passengers, they’re loading goats, and just about anything else on the plane! Talk about a challenging, carry-on, luggage situation… :-)
Bling fish?
Prayers for all...
“I love watching the YouTube aviation videos that show pilots (like the ones down in Papua New Guinea), who fly into really odd situated airfields that are built in box canyons, and things like that.”
I watch those too.
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