THE Canadian maker of BlackBerry smartphones has announced two senior executives have been fired over reckless drunkenness that forced the diversion of a trans-Pacific flight last week.

Research In Motion said in a brief statement, "RIM expects that its employees conduct themselves in a manner reflective of our strong principles and standards of business behaviour.



"RIM does not condone behavior that conflicts with applicable laws and employees are expected to act, at all times, with integrity and respect," it added.



"The individuals involved in this incident are no longer employed by RIM."



George Campbell, 45, and Paul Alexander Wilson, 38, pleaded guilty to mischief on Wednesday.



They were given suspended sentences, banned from flying Air Canada for one year, and ordered to pay more than $35,000 each to the carrier.



Last Monday, the pair became unruly after consuming "too much alcohol," according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.



The Boeing 777 aircraft carrying 331 passengers and crew members was already north of Alaska when the pilots decided to turn the plane around to unload the passengers.



The flight to Beijing continued the following day.

Originally published asRIM execs fired over drunken behaviour on flight