Some members of a rowdy group shown dancing, drinking and vaping maskless aboard a flight to Cancun find themselves stranded in Mexico after their return flight to Canada was scrubbed and other airlines have declined to fly them home.
The group flew to Cancun from Montreal on December 30 aboard a Sunwing Airlines charter flight for a trip organized by “exclusive private group” 111 Private Club.
Video of the party on board, which shows passengers dancing and drinking in the aisles, has sparked outrage in Canada. An investigation by Transport Canada is underway, and passengers could face hefty fines or worse.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday he was “extremely frustrated” with the incident.
“It’s a slap in the face to see people putting themselves, putting their fellow citizens, putting airline workers at risk by being completely irresponsible,” Trudeau said at a briefing.
In a statement posted on Twitter on Thursday, event organizer and TripleOne president James William Awad said, “I understand why many fellow citizens are upset about the current situation.”
Awad said he chartered a private plane to “ensure everyone’s safety” and took the additional step of getting the passengers tested for Covid before they left Montreal.
Sunwing canceled their return flight, which was scheduled for January 5, because the group did not agree to terms it outlined, the airline said.