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Q: And this is to make sure there isn’t a half-lit cigarette somewhere?

A: That’s correct. I know that it’s really remote. Then we had to give the crew a rest. That meant we had to put the passengers up as well. Furthermore, that meant that the passengers in Punta Cana who were going to be picked up had to be sent back to their hotels and be put up. We’re paying for all the passengers’ hotel accommodations, their meals, communication with relatives if required. Our position is: you’ve got to be responsible for your actions. Now we are going to sue them to try and recover our costs.

Q: How much is that going to come to?

A: The best guess I can make right now is about $50,000.

Q: You made the ‘three-strikes’ comment. What was the point of no-return where you had to land?

A: I would say once a cigarette is lit, that’s it. We’re trying to tell passengers that they need to be responsible for their own actions. If those actions run contrary to the law and you will not listen to our staff, then we have the right to put you off the aircraft.



Q: Who is liable if other customers seek damages caused by this incident?

A:We would address each situation individually. Are we going to include that in our damages? Yes, I would say. But again, I’m not the lawyers. What we’re going to do is sue them for our out-of-pocket expenses, whatever they may be.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

National Post



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A Canadian tour operator says it’s considering suing a Cape Breton family for the estimated $40,000 cost of a flight diversion to Bermuda caused by what it claims was unruly behaviour and smoking during the trip.