Three people died when a helicopter crashed approximately 22 km southwest of Resolute Bay on Sunday.
A member of the Polar Continental Shelf Program reported to the RCMP at 8:30 p.m. that a search was underway for the aircraft, which was scheduled to arrive at 4:45 p.m.
A Twin Otter flying over the chopper's last known position on Griffith Island located debris consistent with a crash.
A search and rescue team working with Joint Rescue Coordination Centre departed Resolute Bay around 9:45 p.m. The search crew reached the site during the early morning hours on Monday and confirmed that there were no survivors of the crash.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing in conjunction with Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the Office of the Chief Coroner, according to the RCMP.
Premier Joe Savikataaq expressed how he was "devastated" to hear of the news.
"This is especially hard and personal, as this crash occurred during a trip to survey the Lancaster Sound polar bear population, undertaken by my Department of Environment," Savikataaq stated. "As the RCMP work to determine the cause of the crash, I ask you to please keep the victims and their loved ones in your thoughts."
Identities of the deceased have been released at this time.
The Mounties acknowledged the assistance of the Emergency Management Organization, the wildlife office in Resolute Bay and the three-person ground search and rescue team that made the trek to the wreckage site.