Air search launched for three people overdue on trip in Northwest Territories

YELLOWKNIFE – A search is underway in the Northwest Territories for three people who are overdue on a trip between two remote communities on the north side of Great Slave Lake.

RCMP say two men and a woman left Dettah, southeast of Yellowknife, around 10:30 p.m. Monday for what was believed to be a journey to Lutsel’ke on the eastern arm of the lake.

They were in a 1990s-era Black Bombardier Scandic two-seater, towing two toboggans.

Police say they have equipment appropriate for the trip and at least one person is believed to be an experienced traveller on the land.

They were reported overdue just before 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and an air search over part of Great Slave Lake was carried out soon after.

The air search was to resume Wednesday but Mounties say ice conditions on the lake are too treacherous for ground crews, and they’re advising against individual search attempts due to deteriorating ice conditions.