Jillian Dickens
Northern News Services

Pond Inlet (Nov 14/05) - Police in Pond Inlet are investigating a fender bender involving a cargo van and a plane.

In late September, a parked First Air plane was grounded after a van belonging to Tonoonik Sahoonik Co-op slammed into its nose.

Because the truck punctured that part of the plane which has the avionics and sensors, "First Air weren't going to take any risks by flying," said Const. Dennis Lambe.

The three passengers scheduled to fly to Iqaluit that day were delayed over night.

Kenn Borek Air flew the unlucky travellers to Resolute, where a First Air plane was waiting to fly them safely to Iqaluit.

The punctured nose was repaired the day after the accident, and the plane flew out that evening.

Police are calling the incident a rare accident.

"This has never happened before," said Lambe, who refused to give any more information.

First Air representatives would not comment on the accident.