Four people were injured Monday when a small plane crashed near the Quebec-Labrador boundary, officials said.

Military rescue personnel were dispatched Monday morning to the scene in western Labrador, about 125 kilometres east of Schefferville, Que.

Officials said seven people, including the pilot, were on board the Beaver float plane operated by Air Saguenay for a fishing trip.

The plane, which was carrying four Americans anglers and two fishing guides, went down minutes after it took off from a campsite at about 8:40 a.m. AT.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary said four people were injured, two of them critically. Few details were available Monday afternoon about their injuries. They were transported to Labrador City for treatment.

Air Saguenay vice-president Jean Tremblay said the pilot and one American were the most seriously hurt. Both were to be transferred to a Quebec City hospital on Monday night.

Kevin Barry, co-owner of the Three Rivers Lodge where the anglers were staying, said someone on the plane was able to radio for help using a satellite phone.

One of the guides is Barry's uncle, who walked away from the crash with minor injuries, but he remains in hospital for evaluation.

"We know there are a couple of strains from the impact of the plane going down," said Barry, who spoke to his uncle briefly by phone.

Two search-and-rescue technicians had parachuted to the scene from a Hercules airplane based in Greenwood, N.S.

The military also dispatched a Griffon helicopter from Happy Valley-Goose Bay and a Cormorant helicopter from Gander.

The Transportation Safety Board said its investigators are gathering evidence but refused to speculate on the cause of the crash.

With files from the Canadian Press