Maskless Quebec influencers post videos partying on a Sunwing flight

On Tuesday, controversial videos surfaced of a Sunwing Airlines flight from Montreal to Cancún, filled with maskless Quebec influencers partying on the plane. The passengers, including former participants Quebec reality shows Occupation Double and Love Island, can be seen smoking, drinking and dancing on the chartered flight on Dec. 30. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reacted to the footage in a press conference today, calling the behaviour “completely irresponsible.”

Des influenceurs québécois risquent des amendes salées et d’être bannis de compagnies aériennes après avoir enfreint des règles de l’aviation durant un gros party qui a dérapé à bord d’un vol pour Cancún. #covid #polqc

Extrait de la fête ci-dessous ????https://t.co/nGfRjY8uOj pic.twitter.com/kBzZwfp4EQ

— Francis Pilon (@FrancisPilon_) January 4, 2022

Following the posting of the now-deleted footage on social media, Sunwing cancelled the group’s return flight, which was scheduled for Wednesday. Both Air Canada and Air Transat released statements today stating that, to the degree that they could be identified from the videos, they would not allow the passengers from the Dec. 30 flight to board their flights back to Montreal in order to ensure the safety of other passengers and crew.

James William Awad, who organized the flight, argued that the cancellation is unfair and that his group complied with the airline’s safety measures.

“I agreed to all their conditions. But I wanted to make sure my group eats, so I told them I want food [on] the plane…It’s a five-hour flight, they don’t want to feed my group. It poses no concerns for flight safety.”

Awad also claims that the group would not have continued to vape if someone had told them to stop. However, Sunwing’s website states that e-cigarettes “must be packed in your carry-on baggage and cannot be used onboard.”

The federal Minister of Transport, Omar Alghabra, tweeted about the matter, revealing that Transport Canada is launching a full investigation into the flight.

I am aware of the reports of unacceptable behavior on a Sunwing flight. I have asked Transport Canada to investigate the matter. We must take the risks of COVID seriously!

— Omar Alghabra (@OmarAlghabra) January 4, 2022

This article was originally published on Jan. 4 and updated on Jan. 5, 2022.

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