Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Feds fine passengers on Sunwing party flight

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 08 Mar, 2022 02:30 PM
  • Feds fine passengers on Sunwing party flight

MONTREAL - Passengers are paying a pricey penalty for partying onboard a Sunwing flight last year that devolved into a raucous onboard soirée.

The federal Transport Department said Tuesday it issued unspecified fines against six passengers.

Videos of the charter voyage from Montreal to Cancun, Mexico, shared on social media show unmasked passengers in close proximity singing and dancing in the aisle and on seats as some clutch bottles of liquor, snap selfies and vape.

A half-dozen passengers who were not fully vaccinated when they boarded have now received penalties that could reach a maximum of $5,000 each, Transport Canada said. Under COVID-19 rules, all passengers must be fully vaccinated to board a flight departing the country.

“Certain behaviours reported in connection with the flight on Dec. 30, 2021, are unacceptable and will not be tolerated," Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said in a release. "Aviation rules must be respected by everyone, for the sake of everyone’s safety."

Transport Canada launched an investigation on Jan. 4 to determine whether travellers violated laws or regulations around aviation safety and security.

Sunwing has said in an email that passengers — some were Quebec-based social media influencers — violated aviation regulations and public health rules via “unruly behaviour,” prompting an internal probe.

The flight took off about two weeks after the federal government advised Canadians to avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada.

The organizer of the controversial trip said in late January that Sunwing unfairly abandoned his group in Mexico.

James William Awad told reporters that the Toronto-based airline, along with Air Canada and Air Transat, should be “ashamed” of themselves for refusing to fly the young travellers back to Canada based on videos of the flight that circulated online.

The airlines stranded 154 Canadians in the Yucatán Peninsula without knowing whether they could afford to keep paying for hotels and food, he said.

Weeks earlier, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described the group as “idiots” and barbarians.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 8, 2022.

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. promises blanket internet coverage by 2027

B.C. promises blanket internet coverage by 2027
In a news release, the province says the plan means many First Nations communities will have high-speed internet access for the first time. B.C. is promising that every home and community will have the service by 2027, which was also promised in the budget announced last month. 

B.C. promises blanket internet coverage by 2027

B.C. adds conditions for Trans Mountain expansion

B.C. adds conditions for Trans Mountain expansion
The expansion is set to nearly triple the capacity of the existing 1,150-kilometre pipeline that carries 300,000 barrels per day of petroleum products from Alberta to B.C., which will significantly increase the number of tankers carrying oil for export.

B.C. adds conditions for Trans Mountain expansion

B.C. shifts vaccination order for health workers

B.C. shifts vaccination order for health workers
The new order differs from last month's announcement when provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said all regulated health professionals vaccinated with one dose before March 24 could continue to work only if they received a second dose within 35 days.

B.C. shifts vaccination order for health workers

Ukraine attack sparks fear of global food shortage

Ukraine attack sparks fear of global food shortage
Ukraine is one of the world's major wheat exporters and since Russia's attack, global wheat prices have risen to levels not seen since 2008. Sandra McCardell, an assistant deputy minister at Global Affairs Canada, told a Senate committee last week that there will be “a wide range of fallout” from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine attack sparks fear of global food shortage

997 COVID19 cases over 3 days

997 COVID19 cases over 3 days
There are 449 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 and 63 are in intensive care. In the past 72 hours, 11 new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,914.    

997 COVID19 cases over 3 days

Who else may run for Conservative party leadership

Who else may run for Conservative party leadership
With Sept.10 picked as the date for when the Conservative Party of Canada will have a new leader, time is ticking for prospective candidates and their teams to get into place. Those running have until April 19 to throw their hat into the ring and until June 3 to sell memberships.

Who else may run for Conservative party leadership

PrevNext