Four killed in Ornge air ambulance crash in northern Ontario

All four people on board an air ambulance helicopter have been killed in a crash. The aircraft was located early Friday morning.

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CTVNews.ca Staff
Published Friday, May 31, 2013 7:14AM EDT
Last Updated Friday, May 31, 2013 8:14AM EDT

Four people were killed when an Ornge air ambulance crashed in northern Ontario Friday morning, officials have confirmed.

There were no survivors in the crash, which killed two pilots and two paramedics. No patients were on board the helicopter, which was en route from Moosonee to Attawapiskat at about 12 a.m. Friday morning.

"Everybody at Ornge is deeply saddened by this tragic incident, and our hearts go out to the families and friends of those who lost their lives. We will do whatever we can to support them at this difficult time. We will also co-operate fully with the authorities charged investigating the accident," said Dr. Andrew McCallum, President and CEO of Ornge, in a statement.

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The Ornge air ambulance service says one of its helicopters with four people on board has been involved in an 'accident' in northern Ontario.

The identities of those killed have not yet been released, but Ornge said it had notified the victims’ families after the crash.

The Sikorsky S76 chopper went down shortly after leaving Moosonee, which is located about 19 kilometres south of James Bay. The isolated community of 3,500 has no road access and all visitors to the community must travel by train or plane.

Earlier Friday, Ornge said a crew from the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre at CFB Trenton is helping to recover the downed helicopter.

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