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Two people have been rescued after a plane crashed into a remote mountain lake near Squamish, B.C.
The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre said it was contacted at 10:55 p.m. PT Monday about an overdue Cessna 172 in the Squamish area.
Cpl. Katrina Boehmer with Sea to Sky RCMP said the private airplane departed from Squamish Airport and failed to return.
Two people were on board the fixed-wing aircraft, and its last known position and planned route was west of Whistler, according to the JRCC.
“JRCC Victoria immediately tasked a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter and a CC-295 Kingfisher aircraft from 19 Wing Comox,” said Capt. Pedram Mohyeddin of Maritime Forces Pacific.
Whistler and Squamish search and rescue teams also assisted in the search.
The JRCC said they found two people at Seagram Lake at 2 a.m. Tuesday, and that it believes the aircraft went into the water.
No aircraft was found when crews arrived, and the two people were on the shore near the lake, which is located roughly 37 kilometres northwest of Squamish as the crow flies and is surrounded by mountains, including Tricouni Peak and Cypress Peak.
The two people were rescued and taken to Vancouver International Airport and then transported to paramedics.
Brian Twaites said B.C. Emergency Health Services was notified at 3:21 a.m. Tuesday about a plane crash in the Garibaldi area.
“Paramedics provided emergency medical care and transported the patients to hospital in serious but stable condition,” he said.
The investigation will be referred to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), according to police.
In an emailed statement, the TSB said it is in the process of collecting information and assessing the incident.
“As the aircraft is reported to be submerged, there are no plans to deploy to the site,” TSB said.