Airport lighting met standards when worker struck

Transport Canada says the emergency lighting at the Yellowknife airport met standards the night a Canadian North employee was struck in the head by a planes propeller.

Ronak Baroryee, 28, was seriously injured Feb. 13 while working on the airport tarmac during a power outage. The outage was caused by a military helicopter from Exercise Arctic Ram flying into power transmission lines north of the city.

Though there were no ramp lights and the airport apron was dimmer than normal, Transport Canada said the emergency lighting was found to meet the standards required.

Baroryee had been on the job only a few days. He remains in hospital in Edmonton. His parents say he has memory loss and it's not known if he will fully recover.

Two investigations continue. The main one also involves Canadian North and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada because the incident involved personnel at work on the ground.

The Government of the Northwest Territories is assisting that investigation, but is also conducting its own. It's compiling information such as the condition of the airport, the lighting on the tarmac apron, and theweather.

The GNWT says the safety management system could be changed if federal investigators determine there was a gap in safety protocol.