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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Yellowknifers were left in the dark Monday night after a Canadian Forces helicopter clipped power lines about 10 km outside the city at around 7:45 p.m.

The helicopter managed to safely return to the airport after the incident and no injuries were reported, according to Earl Blacklock, communications manager for the Department of Transportation.

The incident is unrelated to unconfirmed reports of an accident involving a person walking into the propeller of a Dash-8 aircraft at the airport, also occuring Feb. 13. No other information is available concerning this incident and Blacklock said he could not speak to it or confirm it.

Blacklock did say runway lights at the Yellowknife Airport did go out during Monday's power outage even though they are supposed to remain powered by a backup generator in the event of a power loss. He said the department is investigating why the runway lights did not remain on. Power had returned to the south end of the city by 9:20 p.m.

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