Australian man identified as Air Canada passenger who died on flight diverted to Honolulu

The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s office identified Monday an Australian man who died mid-flight on an Air Canada jet that was diverted to Honolulu.

Christopher Woodgate, 38, died Saturday and an autopsy was underway to determine his exact cause of death, the medical examiner’s office said.

Woodgate was on the flight with his wife, another family member and five children, said Jessica Lani Rich, of the nonprofit that assists visitors in distress, Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii.

Air Canada said in a statement that flight AC035 had departed from Vancouver, Canada for Brisbane, Australia and diverted to Honolulu about 9:20 a.m. Saturday as a result of a medical emergency. The airline said there were 257 customers and 13 crew on board. Passengers were given hotel and food vouchers and were rescheduled on AC2135, which departed Honolulu for Brisbane at 8:35 a.m. today.

The airline said it could not provide details of the medical emergency out of respect for its customers’ privacy.

Rich said Woodgate had been sick prior to the flight. She said VASH assisted his family with bereavement arrangements. In addition, VASH hired a nurse to ensure an 11-year-old unaccompanied minor, who was also on the flight, was cared for in Honolulu.