Helicopter pilot confirmed among victims of crash near Terrace

One of the victims of a fatal heli-ski crash north of Terrace last week was the pilot of the aircraft, the companies involved in the incident confirmed Monday.

Northern Escape Heli-Skiing and Skyline Helicopters say in a statement that Mark McGowan was among the three people who lost their lives in the Jan. 22 crash. A fourth person, a New Zealand mountaineering expert, has also since succumbed to his injuries.

“Our dedicated staff at Northern Escape and the pilots at Skyline Helicopters, who tirelessly work with us each season, are integral members of the close-knit Northern Escape and British Columbian heli-ski community,” said Northern Escape Heli-Skiing President and GM John Forrest.

“Expressing the profound grief we are experiencing is impossible. We hope you will respect the privacy of those impacted at this extremely difficult time.”

Skyline Helicopters GM Gareth Shanks echoed those sentiments, saying the team is “devastated by the loss.”

“Mark was a phenomenal pilot and a much-loved part of the Skyline Helicopters team. His skills, friendship and good cheer will be greatly missed by our community,” Shanks said.

Forrest says he worked with McGowan for over a decade.

“Mark was an outstanding pilot and a mentor to many,” he said. “He was a consummate professional. Our industry suffered a massive loss with the passing of these two men. Everyone who worked with them is grieving.”

Northern Escape also lost guide Lewis Ainsworth, who succumbed to his injuries days after the crash and became the fourth victim.

The New Zealand Mountain Guides Association said earlier on Monday that Ainsworth was a “highly respected member” of the local and international mountaineering and skiing community, and was “loved by many.”

The 35-year-old was in his second year as a guide with Northern Escape and was “a rising star in the industry,” Forrest says.

“He was friendly, helpful, passionate and amazingly talented,” he added.

He leaves behind his partner, a 10-year-old daughter, and his parents. A celebration of life was held for Ainsworth in Vancouver on Monday.

On Sunday, Forrest said all bodies had been recovered from the site of the crash. The remaining people who were aboard the helicopter at the time of the crash sustained injuries.

The cause of the crash is still unknown. Skyline Helicopters and Northern Escape say they are working with authorities to support the investigation.

The other two people who died in the crash were previously identified as Italian nationals by outlets in their home country.

-With files from Srushti Gangdev