Two NORAD F-15 fighter jets intercepted a Cuba-bound aircraft operated by Canada's Sunwing Airlines
in upstate New York Thursday night, and escorted it back to Montreal
after a passenger made "non specific threats" on board the Boeing 737
aircraft, the airline said.
"We
can confirm that flight WG604 which departed Montreal’s Dorval airport
for Cayo Coco earlier this evening turned around due to an unruly
customer making non-specific threats," the Toronto-based low-cost
carrier said Tin a statement of the flight, which was intercepted near
Albany. "The flight arrived back around 7:25 p.m. and the disruptive
customer was taken into police custody.
The
passenger, 39-year-old Quebec resident Charalabos "Bobby" Nassios
appeared in court on Friday to face charges of assault, death threats
and threats to aviation security, according to Canada's CTV News, an ABC
partner.
Montreal
police spokesperson Andree-Anne Picard told CTV News that Nassios was
allegedly drinking alcohol and disturbing passengers. Police also said
he had made non-specific threats that were not terrorism related but
caused the flight to turn back.
The 170 passengers re-departed for Cuba, but not for several hours.
"Unfortunately
the next viable departure slot to operate into Cayo Coco is 4:30 a.m.,"
the airline said. "Sunwing has provided affected customers with
accommodations and meal vouchers and is very apologetic for the
inconvenience."
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