Aircraft Went Down September 9 With Three On Board

The Canadian Coast Guard helicopter which went down in the Arctic Ocean September 9 has been recovered from the bottom of the ocean.

All three men who were on board the aircraft when it went down succumbed to hypothermia while in the water.

The aircraft was recovered by the Coast Guard and Transport Canada. It was located using a remotely operated submarine. A team consisting of the Canadian Coast Guard's CCGS Amundsen and CCGS Henry Larsen, ArcticNet and the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) has been working to recover the helicopter since its discovery on Monday afternoon.

In a news release, the TSB expressed appreciation to the technical expertise of the Canadian Coast Guard crew, to ArcticNet, and to the Canadian Scientific Submersible Facility pilots who operated the Amundsen's remotely operated vehicle, the wreckage was raised to the surface of the water yesterday where it was safely lifted onto the deck of the Amundsen and then transferred to the Larsen.

While in transit to Resolute, Nunavut, further plans are being made to transport the wreckage to a location where the TSB can conduct its full investigation.

The TSB said it is is grateful for the great collaboration of the Canadian Coast Guard and ArcticNet officials during this difficult operation, and that the successful recovery operation may contribute important information to the ongoing investigation.

(Images provided by the Canadian TSB)

FMI: www.tsb.gc.ca