Canada Ping!
Posted on 08/27/2014 9:03:56 PM PDT by Squawk 8888
MISSISSAUGA — For the 2nd time in just more than a month, a Sunwing flight was forced to turn around and return to Pearson International Airport over a major disturbance on the plane.
The Sunwing flight was en route to Cuba when the pilot decided to divert the plane back to Pearson when two female passengers were being disruptive, according to Peel Regional Police.
The pilot of the 737 aircraft reported while in mid-flight that the aircraft was "under threat."
Sunwing officials say the women were drinking and lit a cigarette onboard the flight before getting into a fight and making a threat to the aircraft.
Canadian fighter jets escorted the plane back to Pearson.
Both women were arrested upon the plane’s arrival at 8:27 p.m., he said.
It’s not clear what the women said or did onboard the plane and if charges will be laid.
Sunwing flight 656 was the only plane scheduled to fly to Manzanillo, Cuba, Wednesday night, according to the Greater Toronto Airports Authority. It was scheduled to head back to Cuba later this evening.
Back on July 25, a Sunwing flight from Toronto to Panama City was diverted back to Pearson when a passenger made direct threats, including a threat to bomb the plane.
Ali Shahi, 25, of Mississauga was arrested after Flight 772 made an emergency landing at Pearson. It was escorted by two U.S. F-16 military jets. Shahi, whose out on bail, is charged with uttering threats and endangering the safety of an aircraft.
Canada Ping!
That’s some party!
I am sure they could have had an MMA cage fight going on and that would be OK... It was the lit cigarette that prompted a military response.
Same thoughts here. Seems like a massive over-reaction. I don’t know if they’d be able to have them arrested and charged if they continued to Cuba. Of course, I don’t know that that’s strictly necessary either, really.
Scrambled jets waste some $100K worth of fuel and maintenance.
For what? Something a pair of wire ties worth $1 could solve.
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