Firefighting plane crash kills 3 in Canada's Northwest Territories

Three people died when a bird dog aircraft crashed Wednesday evening near Fort Simpson while supporting wildfire suppression, authorities confirmed Thursday.

NWT Fire said responders reached the crash site Thursday morning and confirmed the fatalities. The organization said it is grieving alongside the families and the broader wildfire community. The bird dog aircraft, a Turbo Commander 690 operated by Yellowknife-based Buffalo Airways, was deployed with an airtanker group to fight a nearby lightning-caused fire designated FS009-26.

Buffalo Airways confirmed one of the victims was a pilot. The company said it is cooperating with investigators. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada said it is deploying a team to the scene.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement that his thoughts are with the families of the pilot and two firefighters who died. He called the work of protecting Canadians from wildfires a profound sacrifice.

Officials were responding to 19 forest fires across the territory Thursday. The Marten Hills fire that the aircraft was supporting was about 100 hectares and posed no risk to communities or infrastructure, they said.