Helicopter crash in Canadian Arctic leaves three dead

Two crew and a wildlife biologist were on board

A file photo of an AS350 helicopter similar to the one that crashed in the Canadian Arctic on Sunday (Getty Images)

Three people have died in a helicopter crash in the Canadian Arctic, officials say.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police said the crash took place on Griffith Island near Resolute Bay in Nunavut.

They were alerted about a missing helicopter on Sunday night after it failed to land at its scheduled time and there was no contact from those on board.

A two-person search and rescue team located the crash site in the early hours of Monday and confirmed there were no survivors.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada will deploy a team to the island to establish the cause of the crash of the Airbus AS350 utility helicopter.

A statement released by Great Slave Helicopters said that two of its flight crew and a wildlife biologist had died in the accident, but did not name them.

“We’d like to thank the RCMP, emergency management organisation, the Wildlife Office of Resolute Bay, and the two-man ground search and rescue team that made the trek to the wreckage site,” the company said.

“The crash site and surrounding area have been secured and will be maintained as investigators arrive.

“We share the grief of the friends and family of the victims. We request privacy for them and the company as we get through these difficult times.”

Caroline Cochrane, premier of the Northwest Territories, tweeted her condolences: “Northerners are like family – and when tragedy strikes, it impacts us all.”

“I want to extend my sincerest condolences to the friends, family, and co-workers of those who died in the Great Slave Helicopter crash. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.”