WINNIPEG – A Thunder Bay man has died in a plane crash just north of Winnipeg early on Thursday. The crash of a Beechcraft Musketeer happened on Highway 8 near Parkdale Road and McPhillips Road and caused the closure of Highway 8 to and from Gimli for several hours.

The A23-19 aircraft took off from St. Andrews Airport and crashed shortly after takeoff.

The Transportation Safety Board has dispatched three investigators to the scene.

Reportedly, the pilot of the plane took the aircraft without the consent of the owner. The pilot, whose name has not been released was however known to the plane owner.

According to the RCMP the plane was headed to Ontario, and the only person onboard was the pilot.