WINNIPEG - A northern Manitoba airline has had its operations suspended after one of its flights crashed earlier this month, killing a man.

The small commercial aircraft went off the end of a runway during takeoff from Pukatawagan, a community north of The Pas, on July 4, killing a 56-year-old resident of Opaskwayak Cree Nation.

As of Saturday, Missinippi Airways' Air Operator Certificate has been suspended, and it cannot provide commercial air services.

In a release Monday, Transport Canada said the suspension was based on safety concerns and does not rule out further regulatory action. The national regulator will continue to work with the airline until it demonstrates all safety regulations are met, it said in a release.

At the time of the crash, which also involved a fire, there were eight passengers and one pilot on board. The other occupants of the plane were transported to hospital in Winnipeg for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

A northern Manitoba aviation source said the plane involved was a single-engine turbine Cessna Caravan.

According to the aviation source, conditions in the area at the time of the crash were very gusty.

Pukatawagan is located about 600 km north of Winnipeg.