UPDATED: Helicopter in fatal Stouffville crash was from North Bay

Update Wed. Sept. 26:

Essential Helicopters put this message on their Facebook page today.

"It has been confirmed that one of our aircraft and a senior pilot were involved in a crash yesterday - September 25th. We are deeply saddened to have lost a long time friend, colleague and experienced pilot. We are working closely with the Transportation Safety Board and as such will not be commenting further.

"We would like to thank all who have reached out to us to offer support. Ours is an amazing industry."

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Original story:

A helicopter that crashed this afternoon (Tuesday) in a rural area of Whitchurch-Stouffville north of Toronto that killed the pilot, was from North Bay and belonged to Essential Helicopters.

York Regional Police say the helicopter had lost contact with Buttonville Airport in Markham.

The wreckage was found in some woods near Warden Avenue and St. Johns Sideroad.

Elaine Ross is the administrator/student coordinator at Essential in North Bay.

She told BayToday, "It has been confirmed apparently that it was one of our aircraft. A senior pilot was involved in the crash. We are working closely with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada at this time."

Ross said she could make no further comment at this time.

The Facebook page says "Essential Helicopters is partnered with Canadore College to provide a College Pilot Preparedness Certificate in Commercial Helicopter Pilot Training."

There are reports the helicopter encountered a mechanical failure before the crash. Emergency crews were called to the scene just after 3 p.m.

York Regional Police tweeted, "The pilot was the lone occupant in the aircraft, he has been pronounced deceased at the scene."

The helicopter and pilot left from North Bay around 1:30 p.m. for the Buttonville airport but flew into a zone with no visibility due to fog, according to the Canadian Traffic Network.

The Transportation Safety Board conducts independent investigations into transportation occurrences in order to make findings as to their causes and contributing factors;