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Readers may recall that the Dec. 2-3 flight in question was to transport “VIPs” whose job was to raise the morale of Canadian Forces personnel in Europe. The aircraft stopped in Greece and in Latvia.

That trip resulted in Williams – one of the VIPs on the flight – being charged with sexual assault as well as assault. The incident involved one of the flight attendants on the RCAF aircraft. Williams denies any wrongdoing and is confident he will be vindicated, his lawyer says.

But there were other issues with the flight.

One passenger boarded the “Team Canada” morale tour aircraft – a RCAF CC-150 Polaris – with a 40-ounce bottle of alcohol. Passengers who were already drunk were also allowed to board the aircraft, according to sources. Two individuals were so drunk they urinated themselves.

Video from the flight shows people with their drinks dancing in the aisles of the Polaris aircraft as a rock band plays at the back of the plane. Since there were only around 20 to 25 passengers on this 194-seat aircraft, the party-goers had lots of room to let it all hang out while dancing to the band’s cover version of a Doobie Brothers hit. Speakers/amplifiers were also set up in the aisles, which one would imagine is a violation of aircraft safety procedures. One of the VIPs posted the video with the title, “Rocking our way across the Atlantic.”

Sources say this type of party atmosphere – with lots of booze – is common on such morale flights organized by Vance’s staff. Vance skipped this particular flight this time around.