CPS releases update on man who died after altercation on outbound plane

The Calgary Police Service has released an update on the death of a man following an altercation at the Calgary International Airport.

At around 3 pm on Tuesday, August 7, a man described as a “foreign national” was involved in an altercation with two Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) officers as he was being removed from Canada, according to a statement from CBSA Prairie Acting Regional Director General Nina Patel.

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The man was aboard an outbound flight from the airport when the incident occurred, and though he was rushed to the hospital, he ultimately died after being in “medical distress.”

The release from CBSA stated that questions should be directed to the Calgary Police Service, though when reached for comment on Wednesday morning CPS could only confirm that an autopsy would be taking place later that day and that more information would follow.

An update on the situation was released by CPS on Thursday morning stating that the autopsy had been completed, though the cause and manner of death was still to be determined.

The identity of the man could not be released as his next of kin had not yet been notified, though the update did include some new information — namely that two CBSA officers were also taken to hospital and treated for minor injuries, and that investigators are currently speaking with witnesses to determine what happened aboard the plane.

“This is being investigated as an in-custody death,” said Staff Sergeant Colin Chisholm in the CPS release.

“To protect the integrity of the investigation and prevent any influence on the recollection of witnesses, there is limited information we can share at this time.”

Anyone with information on the case or knows anyone who may have been on the flight is asked to contact the Calgary Police Service non-emergency line at 403-266-1234, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477, or online through their website.