Richmond Mounties have issued a “don’t drink and fly” warning after one man was charged another pled guilty following separate alcohol-related disturbances on airplanes.
The RCMP offered the advice after an Australian man allegedly caused fear and alarm aboard a flight from China to Vancouver Sunday.
Abdul Zain Ali, 25, is now charged with causing a disturbance, mischief and assault during the flight.
Ali was held by flight security on the China Southern Airlines flight after he allegedly became violent while drunk.
And in a second incident, Peter Douglas Lafond, 42, has pled guilty to causing a disturbance after he got drunk and then became aggressive on a plane.
Lafond was arrested by two off-duty police officers on board a domestic flight at YVR on Jan. 23.
The off-duty officers from Winnipeg and Saskatoon jumped in to assist when Lafond refused to leave the plane because he was too drunk to fly.
He was escorted off the flight and was held by the officers until Richmond RCMP arrived.
Lafond was given a conditional discharge for causing a disturbance and has conditions not to be in any airport within 24 hours of consuming alcohol.
“The message to the public is that if you get drunk and cause problems in our airports you won't get where you are going and could face criminal charges,” said Cpl. Stephanie Ashton of the Richmond RCMP, who also thanked the off-duty officers for the assist.
