The United States air force responded to an aircraft crash near Faro, Yukon, according to Sub-Lieutenant Simon Gonsalves.
Gonsalves, who works in public affairs for Canada's Department of National Defence (DND), said RCMP notified the Joint Rescue Coordination Center-Victoria about an ultralight aircraft crash near the Canadian town at 4:13 p.m. on Jan. 26.
Yukon RCMP communications said the pilot and passenger were both safely rescued. Their names won’t be released for privacy reasons, per police.
Gonsalves said the people who were on the flight were taken to a “medical facility” in Whitehorse.
The DND declined to state the number of people involved, their identities and the extent of injuries.
After it was determined that the United States Air National Guard was the closest available asset, the U.S. air force tasked a C-130 Hercules and a Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk to help at the crash site.
"Which agency responds is generally determined by the proximity of the event to the nearest relevant asset," Gonsalves said.
RCMP received an SOS activation after the crash. It was believed to be near Faro, according to police.
RCMP said Yukon Search and Rescue staged the Faro area. A police search and rescue coordinator, RCMP officers from the Ross River-Faro detachment and conservation officers used snowmobiles to assist the air rescue coordinated by the Joint Rescue Coordination Center-Victoria.
Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com
