A chartered Boeing 737 plane has crashed in Canada's Arctic region, killing 12 people, police said.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said the plane went down near the hamlet of Resolute Bay in the Arctic territory of Nunavut. The First Air charter flight was travelling from Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories to Resolute Bay.

RCMP Constable Angelique Dignard said 12 people died in the crash and three people were injured. The plane was carrying 15 people, including four crew members,

Maj Gerald Favre at the northern search and rescue centre at Canadian Forces Base Trenton said its aircraft were already in the area as part of an operational exercise, and were assisting local people in the rescue operation. He said the plane that crashed was not part of the exercise.

First Air said in a news release that the plane last reported communication at 12.40pm local time when it was about five miles from Resolute Bay airport. The company said the Transportation Safety Board has been notified.

On its website, First Air says it serves the cargo and travel needs of remote northern communities in Canada's Arctic, connecting 30 northern communities with some of Canada's bigger cities.



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