Transport Canada Issues First Penalties to Pax of DEC "Party Plane" to CUN

The legal fallout of the well-reported chartered flight of influencers and local Quebec celebrities from YUL to CUN on 30DEC is just beginning.

Transport Canada has announced the first penalties to be handed out in relation to the flight where images and video posted to social media allegedly showed airborne partiers maskless, vaping, drinking and passing a full-sized bottle of alcohol around, congregating in close quarters in the aisles, even body-surfing mid-air in apparent violations of both COVID and aviation safety regulations.

Tuesday, the minister of Transport announced that Transport Canada has issued a series of penalties to passengers who were not fully vaccinated when they boarded their flight.

To date, six passengers have received penalties, which could reach a maximum of $5,000 each.

The ministry says that the investigation is ongoing, and it is expected that more penalties will be issued in the coming days and weeks.

"Certain behaviours reported in connection with the flight on December 30, 2021, are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. This is why Transport Canada took immediate action. Aviation rules must be respected by everyone, for the sake of everyone's safety. Transport Canada will continue to investigate and issue all necessary penalties," said Omar Alghabra, minister of Transport, in a statement.

In response to the reported behaviour on the 30DEC flight, Transport Canada launched an investigation on 04JAN 2022. It has revealed it is investigating a total of 154 pax.

The ministry's investigation is to determine whether the Aeronautics Act, or Transport or COVID regulations or requirements pertaining to aviation safety and security were contravened during that flight.

Specifically, the department has been reviewing compliance with the Interim Order Respecting Certain Requirements for Civil Aviation Due to COVID–19, No. 50, the Canadian Aviation Regulations and the Aeronautics Act. Under the Interim Order, all passengers must be fully vaccinated to board a flight departing from Canada.

If non–compliance is identified, Transport Canada says it will ensure that all appropriate enforcement actions are taken.

A passenger can receive more than one penalty if they have contravened more than one of the regulations and requirements in force.