While they were still missing there was hope that they would be found alive, but those hopes were dashed Thursday after issued a news release confirming the death of two pilots aboard an Air Tindi flight that vanished the previous day.

The King Air 200 plane lost contact with Air Tindi between 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Wednesday morning as it was flying from Yellowknife to Whati, president Al Martin confirmed later that day.

The two pilots were the only people aboard the plane, said Martin, adding the company lost contact with the aircraft 24 to 32 kilometres outside Whati.

Following a search and rescue effort, which saw the Royal Canadian Air force deploy a Hercules aircraft to scan the land between Yellowknife and Whati, a SA国际影视传媒渃rash site believed to involve the previously reported missing aircraft,SA国际影视传媒� was found, stated in a news release issued Thursday afternoon.

Martin told Yellowknifer Thursday the plane was found not far from where the signal was lost SA国际影视传媒� some SA国际影视传媒�20-odd miles out of Whati,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Cold temperatures and bad weather coincided with the plane's disappearance Wednesday SA国际影视传媒� and adverse conditions hampered the search efforts of Whati SA国际影视传媒� but Martin said there is no indication SA国际影视传媒渨hatsoeverSA国际影视传媒� as to what caused the deadly crash.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou really have no idea until you can see the crash site,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭he whole investigation process will take some time.SA国际影视传媒�

say theySA国际影视传媒檙e working alongside the NWT CoronerSA国际影视传媒檚 Office and the Transportation Safety Board following the fatal crash.

SA国际影视传媒淭he investigation remains on-going and out of respect for the families of those on board, no further information is being released at this time,SA国际影视传媒� stated the news release.

News of the deaths spread quickly Thursday, with both prominent community and aviation figures reacting to the tragedy.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is a tragedy,SA国际影视传媒� stated Yellowknife Centre MLA Julie Green in a Facebook post.

SA国际影视传媒淢y deepest condolences (to) the families of the pilots and the whole Air Tindi crew.

For Adam Bembridge, president of Acasta SA国际影视传媒� a helicopter company based in Yellowknife SA国际影视传媒� the search effort's tragic end hit close to home.

SA国际影视传媒淚t's a very, very sad day,SA国际影视传媒� said Bembridge during an interview with Yellowknifer Thursday.

SA国际影视传媒淭he aviation community in Canada is fairly small, but SA国际影视传媒� the aviation community in Yellowknife is very tight-knit and very respectful,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Bembridge, a longtime aviation entrepreneur, said he visited the Air Tindi crew following the news.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey're doing as well as anyone could in these tragic circumstances,SA国际影视传媒� said Bembridge.

Bembridge is an Air Tindi customer himself and his grandchildren fly with the air service.

SA国际影视传媒淲e need to respect Air Tindi as a premier operator and they have a fantastic team,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淚t's a very sad day for everybody, including every man, woman and child in Yellowknife as much as the families and friends directly involved,SA国际影视传媒� added Bembrige.

The next of kin for the two missing crew have been notified, according to Martin.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e making sure theySA国际影视传媒檙e being looked after," he said.

Martin, who oversees a workforce of 200 employees, said Thursday was a SA国际影视传媒渧ery difficult day.SA国际影视传媒�

Employees, he said, went hours with no new updates.

SA国际影视传媒淚t's a small business, everyone's very connected, everyone's helping each other very much. We're just stressing for people to take their time and process,SA国际影视传媒� said Martin.