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Waterbomber pilots unhurt after plane crashes into lake

July 4, 2013, Wabush, N.L. – Two pilots were unhurt after their water bomber ended up in a lake while fighting forest fires near the western Labrador town of Wabush.

Newfoundland and Labrador's Department of Transportation and Works says the Bombardier 415 aircraft was involved in an incident yesterday while picking up water at Moosehead Lake.

The province released few other details, but says it will investigate an incident that has also been reported to Transport Canada and the Transportation Safety Board.

Bruce Mullen, of the Transportation Safety Board's Atlantic region office, says preliminary reports indicate something happened as the aircraft was taking on water for a bombing run.

Mullen says he doesn't know the extent of the damage to the plane but it was still floating on the surface of the lake.

He says the safety board will work with police and provincial officials at the scene but won't be sending its own investigators.

Mullen says the aircraft's black boxes will be removed and sent to Ottawa for analysis.