A helicopter pilot was luckily able to walk away after his aircraft crashed in northern Saskatchewan early Wednesday afternoon.
Reports say the Eurocopter AS-350 operated by Airspan Helicopters collided with the ground near the Key Lake mine around 12:30 p.m.
The helicopter was moving power-line cables suspended on a long line when the accident happened.
Peter Hildebrand of the Transportation Safety Board says the accident occurred as the chopper was trying to release a load but was unable to.
“Then it moved away but the long line was still attached to the load and the helicopter was pulled down and collided with the ground,” he says.
He says the pilot was the only occupant of the helicopter and the crash could have been much worse.
“He was able to exit the helicopter but he was taken to hospital for observations. So, he had injuries, the helicopter has substantial damage but there are no fatalities and no fire.”
RCMP say the pilot was treated for minor injuries and has since been released from hospital in La Ronge.
TSB investigators from Winnipeg are expected to arrive in Key Lake on Friday.