Both North Star Air crew members escaped unharmed when their empty Basler BT-67 ended up in the shallow water of Eabamet Lake near the Eabametoong First Nation early Friday morning. Early reports suggest the turboprop DC-3 conversion lost power in both engines after takeoff from the local airport. It’s not clear what caused the engines to quit.
The carrier, which delivers cargo and offers passenger service to Northern Ontario communities, issued a statement saying the accident happened at 12:41 a.m. “North Star Air activated their Emergency Response Plan,” the statement said. “The Transportation Safety Board and Transport Canada have been notified and will be leading the investigation in determining the cause. North Star Air will be cooperating fully with their investigation.” In addition to Baslers, the airline operates PC-12s, Dash-8 and ATR-72 aircraft serving 50 communities.