Float plane crashes on Vancouver Island; 2 dead, 4 survivors

A float plane carrying a group of hikers crashed on Vancouver Island in a remote area Friday, leaving two dead and four survivors.

The small plane, owned by Air Nootka, activated its emergency beacon shortly after taking off from Hesquiaht Lake.

The Joint Rescue Co-Coordination Centre said “multiple” rescue aircraft were dispatched to search for the plane, along with an RCMP West Coast Marine Section vessel and police crews on the ground.

Poor weather conditions hampered the search.

There was "rain falling, there's some light wind in the area and limited visibility,” RCMP spokesman Cpl. Darren Lagan told The Canadian Press.

“The waters are described as being rough -- not terribly dangerous seas, but certainly higher than you would typically see in the summer months."

JRCC spokesperson, Lt. Navy Greg Menzies, could not release the identities of the passengers or pilot.

According to Transportation Safety Board spokesperson Bill Yearwood, one of the four survivors was critically injured.

Another survivor suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and the remaining two were relatively unharmed.

With files from The Canadian Press

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  An Air Nootka float plane is shown on April 6, 2007. (Flickr / Holly Lawrence)

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  The Joint Rescue Co-Coordination Centre said it received an emergency signal from a float plane carrying a pilot and five passengers at 10:22 a.m. local time from the Hesquiat Lake Provincial Park region, north of Tofino, B.C.