Search and rescue technicians are conducting a recovery mission to retrieve the bodies of three men who died when their helicopter went down Sunday north of Prince Rupert, B.C.
RCMP Corporal Dan Moskaluk said the crash victims were a 35-year-old pilot, believed to be from Abbotsford, B.C., and passengers from Quebec and Powell River, B.C.
Earlier in the day, Cpl. Moskaluk said the Stewart RCMP detachment responded Sunday afternoon to a report of a helicopter crash on the Nelson Glacier in the northwest corner of the province.
"We have confirmed that the three souls on board are deceased as a result in the crash. It's our understanding that there was a pilot on board with two clients and the purpose of the flight was for geological work that was being conducted in the area," Cpl. Moskaluk said in a telephone interview.
The chopper was operated by Vancouver Island Helicopters.
Cpl. Moskaluk said RCMP officers were flown to the crash site by another aircraft from Vancouver Island Helicopters.
He said the officers confirmed the three fatalities while photographing and surveying the site.
The names of the victims have not been released as police are still notifying the victims' family members.
"The investigation continues on now to determine causal factors of the crash, which will be led by Transport Canada, with the assistance of the Stewart RCMP along with the BC Coroners Service," Cpl. Moskaluk said.
Factors causing the crash have yet to be determined, and Transport Canada has taken over the investigation with the help of RCMP and the B.C. Coroner's Service.
Nelson Glacier is located several hundred kilometres north of Prince Rupert, not far from B.C.'s border with Alaska.