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Manitoba plane crash survivors in stable condition

Nov. 19, 2012, Snow Lake, Man. – Seven survivors of a fatal plane crash in northwestern Manitoba were in stable condition in several different hospitals on Monday.

Health officials said the men, who work for Dumas Mine Contracting, were being treated for non-life-threatening injuries in hospitals in The Pas, Thompson, Flin Flon and Winnipeg.

The pilot of the Cessna 208 aircraft was killed when the plane crashed Sunday just a few kilometres from the airstrip near the town of Snow Lake.

The RCMP have not released any names.

"A Cessna 208B, operated by Gogal Air Services Ltd., departed Snow Lake and crashed shortly after departure," Transport Canada said in a preliminary report.

"A passenger who escaped the aircraft contacted 911 dispatch via cellphone to report the incident."

Police, firefighters, wildlife officers and others used snowmobiles to reach the remote scene after poor visibility prevented a military rescue team from parachuting into the area.

Helga Bryant, CEO of the Northern Regional Health Authority, had nothing but praise for the community's people who helped reach and treat the survivors.

"The EMS trudged in through the snow. And then local people started showing up with sleds and Ski-Doos," she said from Flin Flon.

"Some plows came and plowed a path so trucks could get in and begin bringing the victims out to the edge of the bush where the ambulances were waiting," she said.

Bryant said the survivors suffered fractures and back injuries.

An official with Toronto-based Dumas declined comment.

The Transportation Safety Board and Transport Canada are investigating the crash.