Unruly, drunk passenger leads to unexpected Air Transat landing in Iqaluit: RCMP

The Iqaluit airport, shown here as an Airbus prototype cargo jet touches down in January, 2010, sees a wide variety of aircraft landing during an average day.

(Updated)

An Air Transat flight heading from Vancouver to London made an unexpected stop at the Iqaluit airport early March 27.

The RCMP said that a man, 39, who was a passenger on the Air Transat flight, was arrested and charged after the flight was diverted into Iqaluit in early morning hours.

He has since been identified as Darren Edward Cosby.

Police said a man, who was allegedly intoxicated, displayed “belligerent and aggressive behaviour.”

This resulted in passengers aboard the flight having to assist the flight attendants in restraining him, while the captain of the flight made an emergency landing in Iqaluit, police said.

Members of the Iqaluit RCMP detachment arrested the man after the aircraft landed in Iqaluit.

Crosby, who remains in custody until a March 28 bail hearing at the Nunavut Court of Justice, faces charges of uttering threats, causing a disturbance and mischief as well as a charge of unruly behaviour under the Aeronautics Act.

A conviction under the Aeronautics Act can result in fines of up to $100,000 or a five-year jail sentence.

The flight, which departed from Vancouver at 6:55 p.m. on March 26, continued on its way shortly after the Iqaluit stop.