Foreign national dies after altercation with border officers on plane in Calgary

A silhouette of an airplane flying overhead. (AP)

CALGARY - A man who was to be deported from Canada died following an altercation with Canada Border Services Agency officers on a plane.

Regional director Nina Patel said in a statement that the foreign national was on a Tuesday flight departing from Calgary.

There was an altercation between the man and two border services officers before the plane left.

The man went into medical distress, Patel said, and was taken to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The agency is co-operating with Calgary police in an investigation.

Police confirmed the altercation happened Tuesday afternoon, but said no further details will be released until the autopsy is completed.

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said he could not speak to details about the situation because it's being investigated by police.

"Until they determine the facts of exactly what happened and why, no further comment can be made other than to say any loss of life is a great tragedy and serious incident of this kind must be treated with the gravity and care that it deserves," Goodale said in Winnipeg on Wednesday.

"I have every confidence that the Calgary Police Service will get to the bottom of the situation and determine factually what happened."

CBSA will be conducting an internal examination, Goodale said, as it does whenever there is a serious incident.