IQALUIT - Three people aboard a corporate jet were unhurt when it crashed through a fence enclosing Iqaluit's airport during a sideways landing in gusty wind conditions on Dec. 5.

Personnel prepare to tow the Galaxy corporate jet off the lake west of the airport. The plane landed sideways in gusty winds and broke through the fence west of the runway, coming to rest on a small lake near Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park. The paint on the plane's nose is scored and one of its windshield wipers appears broken. - Gabriel Zarate/NNSL photo

The jet was on its way from England to California with Iqaluit as a refuelling stop, according to airport manager John Graham.

"It was just a typical Arctic weather day in Iqaluit," recalled Graham.

According to Andre Turenne of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, the plane was landing on "runway 35" headed northward. During the landing the plane veered to the left, slid onto the snow-covered ground, through the fence and onto a small lake to the west of the airport.

Emergency teams from the city, the airport and the Canada Border Services Agency responded. Neither the passenger nor either of the plane's two-person crew was hurt.

Two days later the plane was towed off the lake, back onto the runway and into a hangar for more detailed inspection, Graham said.

Turenne said the preliminary inspection photos he has seen show the plane has some damage to its nose and belly.

"It doesn't show too much damage, but you can't assume what you see without looking to the details to make sure no systems have been breached," Turenne said.

Turenne said it's not clear if Iqaluit has the equipment necessary to repair the plane, if the damage turns out to be serious.

Insurance adjusters were in town last week, evaluating the damage to the aircraft and preparing a report for federal regulators on how the accident happened.