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Though some of the VIPs aboard a December 2017 military flight to Greece and Latvia as part of a taxpayer-funded Canadian Forces morale tour were drunk and abusive, an investigation has found the flight crew felt they had no choice but to endure the boorish behaviour as the individuals were guests of Canada’s top soldier.

The results of an internal military investigation, to be released Thursday, found the VIP civilian passengers, including former NHL player Dave “Tiger” Williams and former NHL general manager Brian Burke, were exempt from security screening before the flight, and some — already drunk — walked on to the Canadian Forces aircraft with alcoholic drinks in their hands.

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The $337,000 trip, planned by the office of Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jon Vance, resulted in a sex-assault charge against Williams and a public relations black-eye for the Canadian Forces. It has been dubbed the “party flight” by some military personnel because of what unfolded on the aircraft. As well as VIPs being allowed to bring their own alcohol on the plane that would bear them overseas to visit Canadian troops posted abroad, there are allegations two individuals were so drunk they urinated themselves. Video taken aboard the plane showed people — including one member of Vance’s staff — dancing with their drinks in the aisles of the aircraft as a rock band played at the back of the plane. Others chewed tobacco, in violation of Canadian Forces rules, spitting the slimy juice into cups.