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Who makes the call to turn the flight around?

The final decision regarding diverting an aircraft due to concerns about an unruly passenger rests with the pilot in command of the aircraft, said Transport Canada in a statement.

So how does NORAD get involved?

When a disturbance occurs, the pilot reports the incident to the air traffic control centre, which then relays the incident to the Domestic Event Network, hosted by the U.S. Federal Aviation Authority. NORAD monitors the network and responds based on the severity of the disturbance.

When are jets dispatched?

NORAD makes the decision to scramble fighter jets after consulting with other federal aviation authorities. It launches jets to ensure “an abundance of caution” is provided to the aircraft in flight. Officials wouldn’t disclose details, saying the information is confidential.

It seems counterintuitive to send jets from Quebec to meet a plane in South Carolina. How does NORAD decide where those jets should come from?

“Due to operational security, I can’t disclose that information. That will… tell our techniques and procedures of how we do things,” said a NORAD spokesperson.

Why don’t flights just land at the closest airport?

The pilot in command decides what the best plan of action is, said Transport Canada. “Our flight crew… made the decision to divert the aircraft back to Toronto for operational reasons as this was the most time-efficient manner in which we could disembark the unruly passengers, refuel and change crew in order that we could depart the same day allowing our other passengers to begin their vacation,” Sunwing spokeswoman Janine Chapman said. In emergency situations, Canadian airplanes can land on American soil, according to Transport Canada.