3 dead in plane crash near Kangirsuk, northern Quebec

Three people are confirmed dead after a small private plane crashed near the community of Kangirsuk in northern Quebec.

TheCanadian Forces Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre at CFBTrenton dispatched aircraftto the scene upon receiving an emergency locator transmitter message Thursday night at 11:30.KativikRegional Police were alerted tothe crash Friday morning by JRCC Trenton officials.

Thursday night was foggy,KangirsukMayor Elijah Grey told CBC News. Greysays the plane appears to have brokeninto many pieces on impact.

JRCC told CBC that emergency locator transmitter messages can be sent out either manually or automatically on forward impact.

Transportation Safety Board of Canada spokesperson John Cottreauconfirmed that the aircraftwas a Piper PA-23 Aztec, a small, twin-engine plane. Officials at JRCC told CBC that the aircraft was not on a flight plan.

Cottreausaid that the Transportation Safety Board is currently considering whether or not to do a full investigation of the crash, and said that he is hoping to reach adecision within 72 hours.

A search party was able to locate the plane 2.4 kilometres northwest of Kangirsuk.

Police believe the crash occurred Thursday night, and have confirmed that none of the passengers on board the plane survived.