(Montreal) Passengers of the carrier Sunwing who were noticed at the beginning of the year for partying during a flight between Montreal and Cancún have been fined a total of $ 59,500, announced Thursday Transport Canada.
Posted at 12:35 p.m.
According to the federal agency, a total of 42 fines were issued against 37 of the 154 passengers on the flight that took place on December 30, 2021. Of these, 18 were related to non-compliance with vaccination status, and 24 concerned failure to follow mask wearing instructions. The value of the fines can reach a maximum of $5,000 each.
Since January 4, Transport Canada has been investigating the controversial flight, which notably led to revelers being called “without purpose” and “ostrogoths” by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Images and videos of the revelers took to social media in the early days of January, sparking outrage among many Canadians who had just been deprived of holiday gatherings due to the fifth wave of coronavirus infections. COVID-19, with the arrival of the Omicron variant.
The flight took off about two weeks after the federal government advised Canadians to avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada.
The results of the investigation will determine if any violations or contraventions of the Aeronautics Act, aviation safety and security regulations and requirements have been committed and if further penalties are warranted, it said. Transport Canada in its press release.
“With this investigation, we want to send a clear message: the behavior of some passengers on the Montreal-Cancún flight on December 30 was unacceptable, and they are not tolerated,” said Transport Minister Omar Alghabra in the press release. Transport Canada will continue to ensure that all aviation rules are followed at all times. »