Canadians Killed In Helicopter Crash

A helicopter carrying 15 people, including nine Canadians, crashed into a fog-shrouded mountain range in Central Asia. All aboard were presumed dead.

The helicopter was flying over the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan when it plunged into a cliff ledge in the Tian Shan Mountains on Wednesday afternoon.

Rescuers spotted the wreckage Thursday, but were unable to reach the remote spot, at an altitude of 12,540 feet, before nightfall.

There were no sign of survivors, according to Len Homeniuk, president of Kumtor, a Canadian-Kyrgyz joint gold mining venture.