“These people are treasured members of our community and their loss touches everyone,” the statement said.

A team of investigators from Canada’s Transportation Safety Board has been deployed to look into the accident.

Rio Tinto chief executive Jakob Stausholm said in a statement that the company was devastated by the crash.

“We are working closely with authorities and will help in any way we can with their efforts to find out exactly what has happened,” he said.

The premier of the Northwest Territories also put out a statement mourning those lost.

“It is with a heavy heart that I express my deepest condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of those who were aboard the Northwestern Air flight that crashed outside of Fort Smith today,” Premier R.J. Simpson said.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police did not respond to requests for comment.

Rio has been operating Diavik, the biggest diamond mine in Canada, since it started production in 2003, before taking full control in 2021.

The crash comes a day after three people were killed and four seriously injured in a helicopter crash in neighbouring British Columbia.