HAPPY VALLEY-GOOSE BAY, N.L. — The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed the body of the fourth victim of the plane crash recovered by RCMP on Wednesday in Mistastin Lake, Labrador, was that of the second guide in the plane, a 50-year-old man from Newfoundland and Labrador.
Still missing, and presumed deceased, are the aircraft's 66-year-old pilot, and two passengers, both Americans — a 40-year-old man from Indiana and a 38-year-old man from Illinois.
The RCMP has already located and recovered the remains of a 47-year-old guide from this province, a 67-year-old passenger from New Jersey and a 66-year-old man from Illinois.
More to come.
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The RCMP reports that on Wednesday afternoon, the body of the fourth victim of the plane crash in Mistastin Lake, Labrador, was recovered.
The body is being sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and once identification has been confirmed, the family of the deceased will be notified.
Of the seven occupants on the plane, four bodies have been recovered. Search efforts continue for the remaining three occupants.
RCMP officers, including the underwater recovery team, have been at Mistastin Lake searching for the remaining occupants of the plane that crashed in Mistastin Lake on Monday, July 15, in the remote area of Labrador.
The plane wreckage had been visible from the air at first but it is believed that high winds and heavy rains contributed to the plane sinking prior to the RCMP expert divers and investigators getting in to the scene with the required equipment for comprehensive searching.
Side-scanning radar and a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) is on site and being used as needed during the search efforts.
Mistastin Lake is located approximately 100 kilometres southwest of Nain, and is accessible only by air. The lake measures approximately 16 kilometres in length and locals familiar with the lake have indicated that depths could exceed a few hundred metres.
The plane, a de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver, departed a fishing lodge at Crossroads Lake, east of Schefferville, Que., on the morning of July 15 and was heading to a remote fishing camp on the lake. The plane was reported overdue late that 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.
General information about the seven occupants who were on the plane is: pilot, a 66-year-old man from Quebec; guide, a 50-year-old man from Newfoundland and Labrador; guide, a 47-year-old man from Newfoundland and Labrador; passenger, a 67-year-old man from New Jersey; passenger, a 66-year-old man from Illinois; passenger, a 40-year-old man from Indiana; passenger, a 38-year-old man from Illinois.
The cause of the crash is not known and will be investigated by the Canadian Transportation Safety Board.
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