B.C. Coroners Service investigation underway into fatal plane crash on Gabriola Island

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      More details have emerged about a plane crash that took place last night on an island off the east coast of Vancouver Island.

      The B.C. government issued an information bulletin today (December 11) stating that B.C. Coroners Service investigators arrived at Gabriola Island to work with the Transportation Safety Board and RCMP to gather information from the scene, to identify those who died in the plane crash, and to determine the circumstances leading to their deaths.

      First responders, including B.C. Emergency Health Services and Gabriola Island RCMP, received reports about a plane crash on the island just after 6 p.m. on December 10.

      According to the news release, a small aircraft crashed in a wooded residential area on the northwest corner of the island, and that there is significant debris at the site.

      The B.C. Coroners Service won't release any further information at this time and is not confirming the number of deceased until their identities have been confirmed and family members have been notified.

      Meanwhile, CBC News has identified the pilot as 61-year-old Alex Bahlsen, an experienced aviator with his own flight school who was flying back to Canada from Mexico.

      Although news outlets previously reported that there were multiple fatalities and that there weren't any survivors, CTV News has since reported that Maritime Forces Pacific stated that three people died in the crash.

      You can follow Craig Takeuchi on Twitter at @cinecraig or on Facebook

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