Air Ambulance Incident at Whitehorse Airport: No Injuries Reported

URGENT UPDATE: An air ambulance incident at Whitehorse Airport on the evening of August 16, 2023, has left no injuries reported among the crew or pilots. The aircraft, operated by Alkan Air Ltd., encountered a problem during landing but was able to safely return to the ground.

Around 8 p.m. local time, the Beechcraft King Air B200 experienced a landing gear issue shortly after takeoff. A statement from Lacia Kinnear, CEO of Alkan Air Ltd., confirmed that the incident occurred at the Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport. Thankfully, none of the four individuals on board—including two pilots and two emergency personnel—were injured.

The airline quickly reassured the public via a Facebook post just before midnight, emphasizing that its medevac and charter services continue to operate as usual. Although the exact nature of the “issue” remains undisclosed, the incident has been reported to “all relevant authorities,” and an investigation is ongoing.

According to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), the aircraft did not declare an emergency during the incident. After landing, while executing a 180-degree turn to access a taxiway, the right main landing gear collapsed. TSB officials confirmed that they are gathering information from Alkan Air but will not send a team to the site as per routine protocol.

The Yukon government recently extended a contract with Alkan Air Ltd. for air ambulance services valued at approximately $157 million over the next ten years. Alkan Air is a critical service provider in the region, flying patients from remote Yukon communities to healthcare facilities in Whitehorse and beyond.

As authorities continue their investigation, the community is reminded of the vital role that air ambulance services play in ensuring timely medical care in remote areas. For now, all operations at the airport have resumed, and Alkan Air Ltd. is committed to transparency as further updates become available.

Stay tuned for more developments on this story.