The death toll from a small plane crash in Canada's Northwest Territories is 6, authorities say

Canadian authorities say the death toll from a small plane crash in Canada's Northwest Territories is six

FORT SMITH, Northwest Territories -- The death toll from a small plane crash in Canada's Northwest Territories was six, authorities said Wednesday. The plane was carrying employees from the Rio Tinto mining company.

The Northwest Territories coroner’s office said that four passengers and two crew members from Northwestern Air Lease were killed in Tuesday's crash, while a lone survivor was taken to a hospital and later airlifted to Yellowknife.

The plane took off from the airport in Fort Smith, and then crashed near the banks of the Slave River.

Rio Tinto said that a number of its staff were on the plane, which was headed to its Diavik Diamond Mine, about 300 kilometers (186 miles) northeast of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

“I would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the families, friends, and loved ones of those who have been affected by this tragedy. As a company we are absolutely devastated by this news and offering our full support to our people and the community who are grieving today,” Rio Tinto chief executive Jakob Stausholm said in a earlier statement.