Rescuers parachuted into the scene of a deadly plane crash near a remote community in CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 North on Tuesday.

The Transportation Safety Board said the British Aerospace Jetstream passenger plane went down near Fort Smith, N.W.T., about 740 kilometres south of Yellowknife near the Alberta boundary.

The plane had taken off from the communitySA国际影视传媒檚 airport when it lost contact and crashed near the banks of the frigid Slave River.

It was registered to Northwestern Air Lease, and the company said the aircraft had been chartered.

Mining company Rio Tinto said a number of its staff were on the plane headed to its Diavik Diamond Mine, 300 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife.

SA国际影视传媒淎s a company we are absolutely devastated by this news and offering our full support to our people and the community who are grieving today,SA国际影视传媒� said a statement.

There was no immediate word on how many people were on board the flight, but the airlineSA国际影视传媒檚 website said that type of plane can carry 19 passengers.

The condition of those on the plane was not known, but the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 coronerSA国际影视传媒檚 office said there were fatalities.

The hospital in Fort Smith, a community of about 2,500 people, activated its mass casualty protocol. Such a protocol is initiated when the number of patients and treatment required could exhaust a hospitalSA国际影视传媒檚 resources.

SA国际影视传媒淲e are working closely with other emergency response agencies,SA国际影视传媒� the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority said in a release.

The crash kicked off a massive rescue effort.

Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Trenton said the military responded when the plane lost contact after takeoff.

The Air Force, and Canadian Rangers were all involved in the search-and-rescue, said public affairs officer David Lavallee.

Three Air Force squadrons provided air support, while police and rangers conducted a search on the ground, he said.

A CC-130H Hercules aircraft travelled to the site from Calgary and a CC-130J Hercules was sent from Trenton, Ont., he said. A Twin Otter aircraft was sent from Yellowknife.

SA国际影视传媒淐anadian Rangers located the aircraft near the Slave River, and (search-and-rescue) SA国际影视传媒� parachuted into the site,SA国际影视传媒� said Lavallee.

Investigators will be working to determine what went wrong. The safety board said that a team was on its way to the site.

N.W.T. Premier R.J. Simpson thanked first responders and offered condolences to the family and friends of those killed.

SA国际影视传媒淭he impact of this incident is felt across the territory,SA国际影视传媒� he said in a statement. SA国际影视传媒淭he people we lost were not just passengers on a flight; they were neighbours, colleagues, friends and loved ones. Their stories and contributions to our communities will not be forgotten.SA国际影视传媒�

An Air Tindi plane chartered to help with winter road construction crashed last month near the Diavik mine.

A military crew parachuted down to help the 10 stranded crew and passengers overnight until they could be rescued, and everyone survived.