The Crash and Initial Response

A small commuter plane crashed in the northern Alberta wilderness in October 1984, resulting in the immediate activation of search and rescue operations. Search leader Brian Dunham was called in to lead a team attempting to locate survivors amidst challenging weather conditions, including heavy clouds and freezing rain. The aircraft's Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) provided a faint signal that allowed rescue teams to narrow down the vicinity of the crash site, but inclement weather made visualization difficult. As Dunham and his team flew the Chinook helicopter, they understood the urgency of finding survivors, especially with two prominent politicians onboard, heightening the stakes for the mission.