RCMP say six people killed after plane bound for Salmon Arm crashes west of Calgary

RCMP in Alberta say six people have died in a small plane crash in a mountainous area west of Calgary.

Police say the plane with a pilot and five passengers aboard took off from Springbank Airport, just west of the city, on Friday night and was headed for Salmon Arm.

It was reported overdue by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Trenton, Ont., and police say the centre contacted them about the plane at 1 a.m. on Saturday.

Police say a Winnipeg-based Royal Canadian Air Force Hercules plane was dispatched to look for the missing aircraft and searchers located it on Mount Bogart, about 60 kilometres west of Calgary, by homing in on an emergency locator transmitter.

“All six bodies have been recovered and the RCMP have secured the scene until the Transportation Safety Board of Canada conduct their investigation,” RCMP said in a news release.