Iqaluit, Nunavut – A First Air Boeing 737 charter flight from Yellowknife, NWT crash landed on Saturday afternoon just before arriving to Resolute Bay, Nunavut. 12 people were killed while three survived.

“The Qikiqtani Inuit Association appreciates and acknowledges the support expressed by all Canadians in our time of grief. The community of Resolute Bay is a Qikiqtani community which welcomes people from all over the world so I know the Prime Minister, government officials, researchers, big‐game hunters, militaries from different countries, and others, have been anxious about the tragedy,” said President of Qikiqtani Inuit Association, Okalik Eegeesiak.

QIA Vice President, George Echalook lost one of his granddaughters in the crash. Fortunately, another granddaughter is one of the survivors and is recovering at an Ottawa hospital.

At a time of grief and difficulty, QIA is sending its thoughts and prayers to all the people touched by the devastating disaster. QIA thanks the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Canadian military, the emergency personnel and local crew for their quick response as the people of Resolute Bay copes with this catastrophe.

First Air, a leading northern airline, is one of QIA’s main transporters between Inuit communities in the Qikiqtaaluk region. QIA continues to have faith in all the airlines and believes this is a very rare and unfortunate tragedy.

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For further information, contact:

David Joanasie
Media Advisor
Tel: (867) 222 5549
Fax: (867) 979 3238
E‐mail: media@qia.ca