WestJet has ‘little tolerance’ for intoxicated flyers
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WestJet has ‘little tolerance’ for intoxicated flyers
Good Morning All:
This was posted in the Globe and Mail yesterday with further to the incident on Sunwing 656/27 August.
I think it is time for all airlines of the world to co-ordinate a "no fly list" which is to be shared with all airlines to keep these idiots off of a aircraft!
As much as you would like to (kicking them off mid flight) the options are limited while airborne to preserve the safety and well being of all concerned on board.
WestJet has ‘little tolerance’ for intoxicated flyers
ARIK LIGETI
The Globe and Mail
Published Sunday, Aug. 31 2014, 8:11 PM EDT
Last updated Monday, Sep. 01 2014, 9:45 AM EDT
The two allegedly drunk women on Wednesday’s Sunwing flight to Cuba are among hundreds of Canadians who have caused trouble in the skies in the past decade.
There have been at least 263 alcohol-, cigarette- or marijuana-related incidents on Canadian flights, or flights passing through Canada, since 2005, according to an analysis of Transport Canada aviation data.
And if you’ve ever been lucky enough to witness one of them, odds are you were flying WestJet. A total of 205, or 78 per cent of all reports, were for incidents on WestJet planes.
WestJet’s high numbers aren’t necessarily an indication of more troublemakers aboard, company media relations adviser Brie Ogle said in an e-mail. Rather, it’s “a direct reflection of how often and how consistently we report alcohol and cigarette-related incidents.”
“We have little tolerance for those who would jeopardize the safety on board our aircraft, and the only way we can ensure those committing infractions are dealt with appropriately is to track them consistently,” Ms. Ogle said.
Those infractions include a time in 2008 when, on a WestJet flight from Montreal to Winnipeg, a passenger was discovered smoking in the lavatory. Shortly after, he was “observed rolling cigarettes in his seat and had taken his shirt off. He would only respond to French,” the report said.
It was later confirmed he was smoking both cigarettes and marijuana on board the flight. The information was collected based on word searches, including “alcohol,” “intoxicated,” and “cigarette,” in CADORS, Transport Canada’s public aviation database.
Air Canada, the country’s biggest carrier, sat a distant second with 13 reports. “We are fully compliant with all reporting requirements,” said company spokesperson Peter Fitzpatrick in an e-mail
Taken as a whole, the number of incidents reflect only a fraction of the passengers onboard planes. WestJet’s 166 reports from January 2010 through June 2014 account for 0.00021 per cent of all its passengers over the time period.
Sunwing Flight 656: 'Unruly' passengers force plane's return to Pearson
2 women arrested after drinking, setting off smoke detector in lavatory and getting into 'altercation'
CBC News Posted: Aug 27, 2014 9:53 PM ET Last Updated: Aug 28, 2014 7:43 AM ET
A Sunwing flight en route to Cuba was forced to turn around and return to Toronto's Pearson International Airport on Wednesday evening after two disruptive passengers caused a major disturbance.
Sunwing confirmed that the flight was en route to Varadero when "two unruly female passengers" consumed a significant amount of duty-free alcohol in the airplane lavatory and lit a cigarette, triggering the smoke detector.
"These passengers proceeded to get into a physical altercation with each other and made a threat against the aircraft, which was considered non-credible given their condition," Janine Chapman, vice-president of marketing for the airline, said in a statement.
The pilot of the 737 aircraft described the two female passengers as disruptive "in a serious manner," and reported to NORAD (North American Aerospace Defence Command) while the plane was in U.S. airspace that the aircraft was "under threat."
CF-18 fighters scrambled
Officials with NORAD's Canadian sector in Winnipeg told CBC News that they sent two Canadian Forces CF-18 fighters from CFB Bagotville in Quebec to intercept Sunwing Flight 656 and escort it back to Pearson.
"Our flight crew followed the appropriate procedures and the aircraft was diverted back to Toronto where it has now landed," said Chapman.
Police were called to the airport between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., and the two passengers were arrested when the plane landed, said Const. George Tudos with Peel Regional Police.
"The disruptive behaviour of these two individuals prompted that pilot to make a decision to come back to Pearson," said Tudos. "So obviously charges will be pending and will be in relation to their actions on board that aircraft."
The flight was preparing to take off again late Wednesday night with a new flight crew. Customers were provided with meal vouchers and the airline apologized for the incident.
The women are expected to appear in a Brampton, Ont., court Thursday.
This was posted in the Globe and Mail yesterday with further to the incident on Sunwing 656/27 August.
I think it is time for all airlines of the world to co-ordinate a "no fly list" which is to be shared with all airlines to keep these idiots off of a aircraft!
As much as you would like to (kicking them off mid flight) the options are limited while airborne to preserve the safety and well being of all concerned on board.
WestJet has ‘little tolerance’ for intoxicated flyers
ARIK LIGETI
The Globe and Mail
Published Sunday, Aug. 31 2014, 8:11 PM EDT
Last updated Monday, Sep. 01 2014, 9:45 AM EDT
The two allegedly drunk women on Wednesday’s Sunwing flight to Cuba are among hundreds of Canadians who have caused trouble in the skies in the past decade.
There have been at least 263 alcohol-, cigarette- or marijuana-related incidents on Canadian flights, or flights passing through Canada, since 2005, according to an analysis of Transport Canada aviation data.
And if you’ve ever been lucky enough to witness one of them, odds are you were flying WestJet. A total of 205, or 78 per cent of all reports, were for incidents on WestJet planes.
WestJet’s high numbers aren’t necessarily an indication of more troublemakers aboard, company media relations adviser Brie Ogle said in an e-mail. Rather, it’s “a direct reflection of how often and how consistently we report alcohol and cigarette-related incidents.”
“We have little tolerance for those who would jeopardize the safety on board our aircraft, and the only way we can ensure those committing infractions are dealt with appropriately is to track them consistently,” Ms. Ogle said.
Those infractions include a time in 2008 when, on a WestJet flight from Montreal to Winnipeg, a passenger was discovered smoking in the lavatory. Shortly after, he was “observed rolling cigarettes in his seat and had taken his shirt off. He would only respond to French,” the report said.
It was later confirmed he was smoking both cigarettes and marijuana on board the flight. The information was collected based on word searches, including “alcohol,” “intoxicated,” and “cigarette,” in CADORS, Transport Canada’s public aviation database.
Air Canada, the country’s biggest carrier, sat a distant second with 13 reports. “We are fully compliant with all reporting requirements,” said company spokesperson Peter Fitzpatrick in an e-mail
Taken as a whole, the number of incidents reflect only a fraction of the passengers onboard planes. WestJet’s 166 reports from January 2010 through June 2014 account for 0.00021 per cent of all its passengers over the time period.
Sunwing Flight 656: 'Unruly' passengers force plane's return to Pearson
2 women arrested after drinking, setting off smoke detector in lavatory and getting into 'altercation'
CBC News Posted: Aug 27, 2014 9:53 PM ET Last Updated: Aug 28, 2014 7:43 AM ET
A Sunwing flight en route to Cuba was forced to turn around and return to Toronto's Pearson International Airport on Wednesday evening after two disruptive passengers caused a major disturbance.
Sunwing confirmed that the flight was en route to Varadero when "two unruly female passengers" consumed a significant amount of duty-free alcohol in the airplane lavatory and lit a cigarette, triggering the smoke detector.
"These passengers proceeded to get into a physical altercation with each other and made a threat against the aircraft, which was considered non-credible given their condition," Janine Chapman, vice-president of marketing for the airline, said in a statement.
The pilot of the 737 aircraft described the two female passengers as disruptive "in a serious manner," and reported to NORAD (North American Aerospace Defence Command) while the plane was in U.S. airspace that the aircraft was "under threat."
CF-18 fighters scrambled
Officials with NORAD's Canadian sector in Winnipeg told CBC News that they sent two Canadian Forces CF-18 fighters from CFB Bagotville in Quebec to intercept Sunwing Flight 656 and escort it back to Pearson.
"Our flight crew followed the appropriate procedures and the aircraft was diverted back to Toronto where it has now landed," said Chapman.
Police were called to the airport between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., and the two passengers were arrested when the plane landed, said Const. George Tudos with Peel Regional Police.
"The disruptive behaviour of these two individuals prompted that pilot to make a decision to come back to Pearson," said Tudos. "So obviously charges will be pending and will be in relation to their actions on board that aircraft."
The flight was preparing to take off again late Wednesday night with a new flight crew. Customers were provided with meal vouchers and the airline apologized for the incident.
The women are expected to appear in a Brampton, Ont., court Thursday.
The industry no fly list was tried in Canada several years ago. One of the first people who ended up on that list filed a appeal with the CTA and he won. That is the reason why one does not exist today, sadly.
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The headline is misleading...
What WestJet has little time for is 'disruptive' passengers. I have lost count of the number of times I have flown with them while being hammered after long spells in the Exec Lounge or bar.
The trick is to wander on board, keep quiet, grin inanely, keep your eyes open for the safety briefing, then fall into a sound sleep until final approach.
In many ways the perfect passenger!
What WestJet has little time for is 'disruptive' passengers. I have lost count of the number of times I have flown with them while being hammered after long spells in the Exec Lounge or bar.
The trick is to wander on board, keep quiet, grin inanely, keep your eyes open for the safety briefing, then fall into a sound sleep until final approach.
In many ways the perfect passenger!
