Multiple Casualties in Helicopter Crash at Popular Backcountry Ski Area

A terrifying heli-skiing helicopter crash in Terrace, British Columbia has claimed the lives of three and left four more passengers critically injured, the Vancouver Sun reported.

The helicopter was one of three vessels embarking on a backcountry skiing excursion in the popular tourist spot, roughly 30 miles outside of Vancouver. It crashed “in a very remote location which is only accessible by helicopter,” per a statement from the Royal Canadian Mountain Police (RCMP). The other pilots reported losing contact with the helicopter moments before they passed over its wreckage.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reported that British Columbia Emergency Health Services were alerted to the crash around 4:15 pm on Monday. They quickly dispatched three air ambulances and five ground ambulances to the scene.

Northern Escape Heli-Skiing president John Forrest confirmed in a statement that three of the passengers perished when one of their helicopters crashed. The other four people onboard during the crash are currently hospitalized with serious injuries. All of the victims’ identities are being withheld for the time being whilst their families are notified.

On Tuesday, police and coroners were flown to the crash site to begin their investigation.

“The guests who ski with us and the staff who work with us each season are part of our family,” Forrest said. “It is impossible to put into words the profound grief that we feel and the sorrow that our guests and our staff share. We hope you will respect the privacy of those impacted at this extremely difficult time.

“We are working closely with the RCMP and other agencies to support the investigation into the cause of the incident,” he said, promising to offer updates on the crash as soon as they’re known.