Some strange news out of Canada details a Sunwing Vacations flight from Halifax to the Dominican Republic that had to be diverted to Bermuda after a family of three were found smoking on a flight.
CBC News reported Monday that police boarded the plane Friday night in Bermuda and arrested the family of three on board.
Click here for an updated story on the lawsuit amount that the smoking family could face if Sunwing sues.
"It appeared to be a father, a mother and a son. The parents appear to be in their 50s. The son, I believe, is around 22 or so," said acting Insp. Paul Simons told CBC news.
Witnesses said the family became belligerent after they were caught smoking the plane's restroom.
The family has since been released on bail The other passengers on the Sunwing flight were put up overnight in hotels in Bermuda and put on a new flight to Punta Cana on Saturday.
The Bermuda-based newspaper, the Royal Gazette reported that the family's name was McNeil. According to the Gazette, David McNeil Sr plead guilty to counts of behaving in a disorderly manner and calling a member of the flight crew an obscenity.
Mother Donna McNeil also plead guilty to disobeying an order from the flight crew.
The Gazette reports that the problem started when son David McNeil was not allowed access to the plane's bathroom shortly after it took off. He was initially charged with smoking on the plane and plead not guilty.
The parents were fined $500 each. They were ordered to pay the fine immediately or face ten days in jail.
Bernews published a photo of the McNeil couple and Donna McNeil could be seen smoking outside court in the picture. The paper reported that the family of three lit up immediately after being released from the airport police station at 2 a.m. on Saturday. It published that photo of that smoking session as well. Bernews reported that the senior McNeil said to the flight attendant, "You f—- a$%#oles, I just pissed all over your floor.”
Witnesses told reporters that the family had been drinking.
CTV News is reporting that Sunwing plans to take legal action against the smoking family. Sunwing Vacations spokesman Daryl McWilliams, told CTV that the family's behavior "went way beyond uncooperative."
What is your opinion about this escapade about a family of three ejected from a plane for smoking aboard? Do you think the $500 fine should have been more? Or should they have been let off with only a warning. Leave your comments below.
The issue of smoking on planes no doubt was brought to a new level by this Canadian family who caused such a ruckus on this flight.
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