Three killed in NWT wildfire suppression plane crash near Fort Simpson

Three people have died after a wildfire suppression aircraft crashed in the Northwest Territories, roughly 50 kilometres from Fort Simpson, west of Yellowknife.

The aircraft, a Turbo Commander 690 “bird dog” plane used to coordinate aerial firefighting operations, was supporting wildfire suppression efforts on an active fire in the Marten Hills area when it went down earlier this week. The aircraft is commonly used to guide water bombers and monitor fire behaviour during operations.

RCMP confirmed that no survivors were found at the crash site. Recovery efforts for the victims are currently underway.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, while the territorial coroner’s office is also involved.

Buffalo Airways confirmed it was operating the aircraft and said one of its pilots was among those killed, describing the crew as “heroes” working in active wildfire conditions.

Emergency officials said the aircraft was reported overdue before the wreckage was located, prompting search and response efforts in the remote area.

Authorities and members of the firefighting community are mourning the loss, underscoring the significant risks faced by crews operating in Canada’s northern wildfire zones.