Canadian North employee dies in Ottawa hangar accident

Investigations are underway into the death of a Canadian North employee in Ottawa.

Mike Patterson, a 55-year-old husband and father of two, died early Monday while loading an airplane. (Image from GoFundMe)

Friends identified him on a GoFundMe page as 55-year-old Mike Patterson, a husband and father of two.

He was killed early Monday morning while loading an airplane inside the airline’s hangar.

“This is a very sad day,” said a statement from Canadian North’s president and chief executive officer, Chris Avery.

He said he extended his “deepest condolences” to Patterson’s family and loved ones.

Canadian North is doing an internal investigation into the cause of death, said a spokesperson.

The airline is “taking all the necessary steps” to ensure the safety of its employees, the company said in the statement.

Ottawa Police Service said in an email that they were called to the scene just after 9 a.m. in the morning.

OPS is also investigating Patterson’s death.

As well, the federal workplace safety board is conducting an investigation into what happened.

A spokesperson wrote in an email that it investigates to determine the cause of accidents and deaths, “in an effort to prevent future similar tragedies.”

There is a GoFundMe fundraiser to help support his family. His wife Lisa is the beneficiary. As of Thursday afternoon it had raised more than $17,000.

Canadian North says it’s offering time and resources to employees who were close to what it called “this tragic event,” the statement says.