Fighter jets escort plane after two women put aircraft ‘under threat’
Fighter jets were scrambled to escort a Cuba-bound plane back to Toronto on Wednesday after two female passengers allegedly put the aircraft under threat.
The two women had allegedly drank a ‘significant quantity’ of duty free alcohol in the cabin toilet and lit a cigarette, which triggered the on-board smoke detector.
They then allegedly got into a fight and threatened the safety of the aircraft before the pilot decided to turn back.
NORAD, the bi-national organisation that provides airspace control for the US and Canada, dispatched two Canadian Armed Forces CF-18 fighter jets to escort the plane back to Toronto.
The jets were dispatched as a ‘precautionary measure’, according to a NORAD statement.
It is the third time in just over two years Sunwing has needed a fighter jet escort.
According to a report in the Toronto Star, Milana Muzikante, 26, and Lilia Ratmanski, 25, have been charged with smoking on an aircraft, endangering the safety of an aircraft, mischief over $5,000, mischief endangering life and uttering threats, and have each been granted a $2,500 bail.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season