.

Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

IKALUKTUTIAK/CAMBRIDGE BAY - The lawyer for the family of Julian Tologanak-Labrie says its time to start getting answers as to what really happened on April 15, when the 20-year-old jumped to his death from a plane en route to Cambridge Bay.

Julian Tologanak-Labrie with his son Felix in Cambridge Bay in July 2008. Tologanak ended his life by jumping out of an Adlair Air King Air 200 on a flight between Yellowknife and Cambridge Bay on April 15. - photo courtesy of Helen Tologanak

"Were moving on to the question stage, the inquiry stage, and the stage at which we're going to try to find those details ourselves," Steven Cooper said. "Now we're at the stage where we need to have some answers to the many, many questions the family has."

Cooper said the family is pushing for a full coroner's inquest into Tologanak-Labrie's death under the Coroner's Act.

Nunavut's chief coroner Tim Neilly said the decision whether to hold an inquest will be made within the next few weeks. He also said an inquest could be held even if Tologanak-Labrie's body isn't found.

"In some cases not having a body does present difficulties," he said. "In this case though, since the event was witnessed, then we can go ahead and conduct a death investigation."

Cooper said he will also be calling on the Transportation Safety Board of Canada for information.

"We're also going to be seeking the involvement of the Transport Safety Board because we have a growing list of questions about what really happened on that aircraft and before that aircraft took off," Cooper said.

Paul Laserich, co-owner of Adlair Aviation, told Nunavut News/North last month the aircraft was already depressurized when Tologanak-Labrie opened the door and jumped.

When asked about the rules surrounding depressurization of aircraft, Maryse Durette, media relations for Transport Canada, said the choice to depressurize is the responsibility of pilots.

"The decision to depressurize rests solely with the pilot as he is responsible for the safety of the passengers," Durette said. "It is part of his training, but it is not addressed in the Canadian Aviation Regulations."

John Buckland, operations manager for Great Slave Helicopters, said the company is providing a helicopter to be used in the search for Tologanak-Labrie's body, which is still being carried out by community and family members.

"We're actually trying to mobilize a helicopter up there this weekend," Buckland said on Wednesday, May 13.