• Submitted by: manso
• Society
• 01 / 10 / 2011

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By Dave Dormer, QMI Agency.January 9, 2011. A Calgary couple were removed from a Sunwing Vacations flight in Cuba on Thursday after a man lit up in the plane's washroom.

Terry McFawn and Linda Keys were on board Flight 737 in Varadero when the plane was delayed due to weather, said Daryl McWilliams, vice-president of sales and marketing for Sunwing Travel Group.

Several passengers had asked the flight crew if they could step off the aircraft to have a cigarette and when they were refused, McWiliams said McFawn tried sneaking a quick smoke in the washroom.

"The captain was informed Mr. McFawn had been smoking, which is of course against the law," he said.

"It's against international law, aviation law, you name it so the captain decided to have him deplaned.

"He argued vociferously and I gather some bad language was exchanged with the cabin staff.

"The couple were escorted from the aircraft by Cuban immigration officers and their luggage was unloaded from the plane," said McWilliams.

The removal meant the couple had to pay for another flight home, he added.

"They went to a local hotel, paid for a room, stayed there and came back the next day and paid for seats on our flight to Toronto, then presumably they had to pay to get from Toronto to Calgary.

"It was an expensive cigarette," said McWilliams.

This was the first time passengers have been removed for smoking on a Sunwing flight, said McWilliams, and the company won't pursue further charges.

"We think they've been punished enough," he said. "One-way fares are expensive."

Reached at their Calgary home, the couple's son said they are expected to return home [email protected]

Source: www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2011/01/08/16813731.html