Small plane that crashed near Smithers carried crew contracted by BC Wildfire Service

SMITHERS, B.C. – Three men who died when a small plane crashed northeast of Smithers, B.C., on Saturday were part of a crew contracted by the BC Wildfire Service to do aerial imaging.

Forest Minister Doug Donaldson issued a statement Monday saying there were four men aboard the Cessna 182. They were conducting infrared scans of some of the 2018 wildfires.

"Our thoughts are with the family and friends of everyone involved in this incident. On behalf of all British Columbians, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the three people who did not survive," Donaldson said.

RCMP Sgt. Darren Durnin said that the crash site was located by helicopter search crews in Babine River Corridor Provincial Park, about 100 kilometres northeast of Smithers.

"A conscious male passenger was seen outside the crash site, but due to the landscape the helicopter was unable to land," Durnin said in a statement.

Instead, Durnin said, rescuers were lowered from the chopper further away and then hiked to the crash site.

The pilot and two passengers on the small plane did not survive the crash, the statement said.

The survivor was rescued by helicopter using a long line, then transported to medical care and police said he was in stable condition. Donaldson's statement says the man is expected to recover.

RCMP said the bodies of the other three men have been recovered.

Both the BC Coroners Service and the Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.

A safety board spokeswoman said it sent a team of investigators into the site on the weekend.