Two Missing After Chopper Crash Near Cigar Lake

Tuesday, July 03, 2007 at 15:44

 

 

An extensive search is underway for two missing men believed to have been on board a helicopter that crashed in northern Saskatchewan over the weekend.

 

At about 11:30 Sunday evening, the Wollaston Lake RCMP were notified that a helicopter flying out of Points North Landing was four hours overdue in returning.

 

Search planes from the Canadian Department of National Defence were sent to the area, and reported seeing some debris in and around Bernick Lake at about 8:30 yesterday morning.

 

Bernick Lake is located about 16 kms south of the Cigar Lake uranium mine.

 

The helicopter has not been recovered and the pilot and passenger are missing.

 

The RCMP dive team has been sent to the area today to assist in the search.

 

The Transportation Safety Board is helping to investigate the cause of the crash.

 

Spokesman Peter Hildebrandt says it’s too early to know what may have caused the crash, but it doesn’t appear there was any inclement weather in the region when the chopper went missing.