An Indian national has died in a plane crash near Deer Lake in Newfoundland and Labrador, eastern Canada, the Consulate General of India in Toronto confirmed on Tuesday.
“With deep sorrow, we mourn the tragic passing of Mr. Gautam Santhosh, an Indian national, who lost his life in an accident involving a commercial survey aircraft near Deer Lake, Newfoundland,” the consulate said in a statement posted on social media. It added that consular officials are in close contact with the bereaved family and Canadian authorities to provide all necessary assistance, as reported by PTI.
The crash occurred on the evening of July 26, when a Piper PA-31 Navajo aircraft, operated by a geospatial solutions provider, Kisik Aerial Survey Inc., went down approximately one kilometre south of Deer Lake Regional Airport, shortly after takeoff. According to Canadian broadcaster CBC, the aircraft was on a survey mission.
The crash also forced a temporary closure of the nearby Trans-Canada Highway.
The cause of the crash remains unknown and is under investigation by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB). The board has initiated a detailed probe into the incident, reported PTI.
In a statement, Kisik Aerial Survey Inc. owner Andrew Naysmith said, “We are devastated and heartbroken by this loss. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to the families of the deceased and their loved ones.”
Naysmith said the company will fully cooperate with the official investigation.
The TSB has not released any findings yet.
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