A plane bound for Toronto was diverted to Thunder Bay after a passenger allegedly became unruly and uttered threats Saturday evening.
Passengers on Westjet flight 644 from Vancouver say the flight was about three hours in when a man smoked a cigarette in the plane’s bathroom.
When he exited the bathroom, passengers say he tried to light another cigarette and was told not to. He then allegedly struck a flight attendant.
Passenger Charlie Binks said he was sitting about half-way up the plane when he heard a commotion behind him and saw passengers and flight crew trying to restrain someone.
“He got a little raucous and so they tackled him and brought out the duct tape and taped him up,” Binks said.
“It was quite a little battle going on before they were able to subdue him.”
“It was a little concerning because he was so out of control. He was very, very aggressive.”
Thunder Bay Police Service spokesman Chris Adams said a 27-year-old male Portuguese citizen has been taken into custody and is undergoing a medical assessment in the city.
As for the other passengers, they’ll be in Thunder Bay overnight until they can catch a flight to Toronto Sunday morning.
Adams said local police and the RCMP were called in.
An OPP bomb squad was on the tarmac next to the plane Saturday evening as well.
There is an allegation that the man uttered a bomb threat but because it might be evidence, Adams didn’t want to speculate.
“Every possible precaution is being taken from a safety standpoint,” Adams said.
A criminal investigation is ongoing.
No charges have been laid.
