GANDER AIRPORT IN NEWFOUNDLAND And LABRADOR,CANADA, CLOSED AFTER CORMORANT HELICOPTER CRASH

By Chandrayee Roy Choudhury, Canada

A Cormorant helicopter has crashed during a training flight at the 9 Wing air force base in Gander. 

The Royal Canadian Air Force says a crew was conducting hovering manoeuvres at the Gander airport when the helicopter crashed around 3:40 p.m. Thursday,  near the intersection of runways 13-31 and 03-21.

There were six crew members aboard the CH-149 aircraft, and all of them were taken to hospital.

The RCAF says two of the crew members are still in the hospital receiving treatment, while the other four have been released and are with their squad members. 

Gander airport CEO Reg Wright says the airport is closed to operations, with an update coming at 10 a.m. NT Friday.

A Canadian Forces spokesperson says it's too early to speculate about what may have caused the crash and they are still waiting for more information from the RCAF.