One dead, several injured after chartered plane crashes in Nunavut

SANIKILUAQ, Nunavut - At least one person is dead and several others injured after a chartered plane crashed Saturday night in Nunavut, the airline that owns the plane confirmed.

The Perimeter Aviation plane went down in the community of Sanikiluaq, located on the Belcher Islands in the southeastern corner of Hudson Bay.

Airline President Mark Wehrle said authorities in Nunavut have told him that one person has died, and an undetermined number of others on board were injured.

There were two crew members, six adult passengers and one infant on board the flight, Wehrle said.

He said one crew member was being flown to Winnipeg for treatment while the captain was being treated at the scene.

There was no immediate information on the condition of the surviving passengers.

The Transportation Safety Board says it has been told the plane went down on the runway of the airport, which sits on the north tip of Flaherty Island, roughly 50 kilometres from the Quebec shoreline.

Wehrle said the flight originated in Winnipeg and crashed around 6 p.m. eastern time.

He said the flight was chartered for Keewatin Air, which schedules three trips a week between Winnipeg and Sanikiluaq.

He said Keewatin usually flies people from the small community in and out of Winnipeg for medical treatment.

Wehrle said six staff from Perimeter and Keewatin were heading to the community.

"We're arranging to go up and meet with the community and all the people involved and work with the authorities to determine the cause and go from there."

The Transportation Safety Board was to determine Sunday when it would send investigators to the crash site.

Perimeter Aviation is based in Winnipeg and operates more than 30 aircraft. Its website says it offers air ambulance, charters and cargo services to destinations throughout North America.