Seven Dead In Mauritania Plane Crash, No Survivors

All seven people aboard a plane being used by Kinross Gold Corporation (NYSE: KGC) died when the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from an airport in the African nation of Mauritania, officials of the gold mining company said Thursday.

The Harbin Y-12, a twin-engine turboprop chartered by the Canadian company, had just taken off from the Nouakchott airport when it crashed, killing the two pilots, two Mauritanian customs officials and three contract security personnel. No Kinross personnel were aboard the aircraft.

The plane was being used to transport gold, but gold was not on the aircraft when it crashed, Kinross said.

Kinross shares dipped six cents to $7.81 in late afternoon trading.