3 dead after plane fighting wildfires crashes in Northwest Territories
Posted June 25, 2026 10:58 am.
Last Updated June 25, 2026 3:10 pm.
YELLOWKNIFE — A small plane directing the fight against wildfires in the Northwest Territories has crashed, killing all three occupants on board.
The crash occurred on Wednesday night, 50 kilometres from Fort Simpson, west of Yellowknife.
RCMP say officers have reached the crash site and are investigating. A Transportation Safety Board team is also involved.
They say the aircraft is a Turbo Commander 960 Bird Dog, which is typically used as an airborne command centre to co-ordinate firefighting operations.
Buffalo Airways says in a Facebook post that it was operating a Turbo Commander 690 on Wednesday that was involved in an incident.
“Our organization is grieving alongside the families, friends, colleagues, and the broader wildfire community as we process this unthinkable loss,” NWT Fire said in a Facebook post on Thursday afternoon, noting that the plane was supporting wildfire suppression efforts on a blaze in the Marten Hills area. “We will honour those who lost their lives in the line of duty at the appropriate time and in accordance with the wishes of their families.”
The fire began on Tuesday. According to the territorial government’s website, the naturally caused blaze was about one square kilometre.
