Unruly Female Passenger Who Assaults FA Forces Air Canada To Divert Flight
An Air Canada flight bound for Toronto from London, England, was diverted to Halifax after one of its female passengers became unruly and allegedly assaulted two flight attendants.
Halifax police arrested a 30-year-old South African woman when flight AC869, with 239 passengers on board, landed at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport. Reports claimed she got unruly, but didn't specifically mention how the ruckus started that led to her assault of two flight attendants.
Peter Fitzpatrick, Air Canada spokesman, said Flight 869, which flies direct daily from London's Heathrow Airport to Toronto's Pearson International Airport, had to make the unscheduled stop at 12:30 pm local time. "The aircraft was met by police and a passenger was removed."
RCMP Sgt. Alain LeBlanc confirmed the arrest but didn't provide further details. "Our initial investigation indicates that the female passenger assaulted two flight attendants during the flight," LeBlanc said. The flight resumed after an hour-long stop. RCMP said the South African woman remains in police custody.
This week had been a particularly restive one for the air travel industry as far as flight diversions and disruptions are concerned. On Monday, a Korean Air executive publicly apologized for being the cause of a flight delay after she ordered a crew member off the plane. She blasted the poor crew member for serving her macadamia nuts that are still bagged rather than on a plate.
Prior to that, a passenger of Thai AirAsia allegedly assaulted a flight attendant, berating the person at first before tossing hot, scalding water at her. The flight was forced to return to its destination in Bangkok.
Some questions about an Air Canada diversion here. We can confirm AC869 from London to Toronto flight has landed and RCMP are attending.
— Halifax Airport (@HfxStanfield) December 17, 2014