A Sunwing flight bound for Cuba was turned around and escorted back to Toronto by two fighter jets after two drunken passengers fought, set off a smoke alarm with cigarettes, and made threats against the entire plane.
"The passengers consumed a significant quantity of their duty-free alcohol purchase in the lavatory and lit a cigarette, triggering the smoke detector alarm," airline spokeswoman Janice Chapman said in a statement,
CP24 reported.
The women, Melana Muzikante, 26, and Lilia Ratmanski, 25, then "proceeded to get into a physical altercation with each other and made a threat against the aircraft, which was considered non-credible given their condition."
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The North American Aerospace Defense Command was alerted to the threat, and dispatched two CF-18 fighter jets based in Bagotville, Quebec, as a precautionary measure to guide the plane back to Canada from its position over North Carolina.
"This is Norad’s regular procedure," said Maj. Julie Roberge. "Under an abundance of caution, the jets were launched to monitor the situation from the air."
When the flight landed, both women were arrested.
CBC.ca reported Thursday that they were charged with mischief over $5,000, mischief endangering life, and uttering threats.
"We're still investigating exactly what occurred on that plane and we will be speaking with other passengers," said Peel police Const. George Tudos.
The Daily Mail reported that Sunwing had a similar incident last month, when a flight to Panama was grounded after a passenger issued threats.
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