News release

TSB Aviation Investigation Update: First Air Flight 6560

(Gatineau, Quebec, 21 August 2011) – The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has begun investigating yesterday's air accident in Resolute Bay, Nunavut, involving a Boeing 737-200 operated by First Air as Flight 6560. Twelve people were fatally injured, and 3 people received injuries.  Our thoughts are with those who lost loved ones in this accident.

In this early stage of the investigation, the investigation team is gathering all of the available information on this accident. In the coming days, the team will be engaged in a number of tasks, including:

• documenting the site with photos;
• surveying the wreckage site and debris field;
• gathering data about the aircraft, operator, crew and passengers;
• gathering data about meteorological conditions;
• identifying aircraft parts for further examination by the TSB Laboratory; and,
• interviewing witnesses or others who might have information, video or still pictures that could be of use to the investigation.

The TSB investigation team has recovered the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder (FDR/CVR) from the wreckage. They are being flown to the TSB Laboratory in Ottawa on 21 Aug 2011 for downloading and decoding.

The TSB is working in cooperation with the Department of National Defence and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to secure the site and preserve its integrity. Once the RCMP have completed their work, the TSB will begin its onsite examination.

It is too early in the investigation to determine the possible causes of the accident. The TSB will take the time necessary to thoroughly analyze all of the available information to determine what happened and why, and what needs to be done to make transportation safer.

TSB officials will be available to answer questions at a press briefing tomorrow. Details are below:

When:

22 August 2011
10:00 a.m. Eastern Time

Who:

Mark Clitsome, Directior of Investigations (Air)
Bryce Fisher, Manager, Standards and Performance (Air)

Where:

TSB Engineering Laboratory
1901 Research Road (near Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier International Airport)
Ottawa, ON

This event is for media only. Media representatives will need to show their outlet identification.

See the investigation page for more information.