<p>TORONTO, CANADA (BNO NEWS) -- A Canadian medical helicopter crashed on Friday and killed four people in the southeastern region of the country, officials said.

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<p>The helicopter, operated by Ornge, Ontario's air ambulance, was carrying out a routine pickup operation in Attawapiskat, located in northern Ontario, when the aircraft lost control shortly after 12 a.m. local time, crashed, and killed four people.

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<p>Ornge authorities told CBC News that the accident killed two pilots and two paramedics, who were flying out of Moosonee. They were identified as Captain Don Filliter of Skead, Ontario, First Officer Jacques Dupuy of Otterburn-Park, Quebec, Primary-care flight paramedics Dustin Dagenais, of Moose Factory, Ontario, and Chris Snowball, of Burlington, Ontario.

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<p>During a press conference, Ornge chief operating officer Rob Giguere said the Sikorsky S76 helicopter had received adequate and continuous maintenance. However, as precaution, two helicopters based in northwestern Ontario were taken out of service and grouned in Thunder Bay and Kenora.

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<p>Some reports said the aircraft exploded shortly after taken off. Giguere did not confirm the reports, but did state that the helicopter crashed just 0.7 nautical miles from the departure point.

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<p>The cause of the accident remains unclear, but investigations will be carried out under the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the Ontario Provincial Police.

</p> <p> (Copyright 2013 by BNO News B.V. All rights reserved. Info: [email protected].) </p>

Very sad news. A lot of people are dependent on air ambulance services in that part of the world.