Pivot Airlines crew detained in Dominican Republic for months back in Canada, CEO says | 24CA News
The crew of a Pivot Airlines flight who have been detained within the Dominican Republic for months have returned house to Canada.
In an announcement issued Thursday night, Pivot Airlines CEO Eric Edmondson confirmed the crew “arrived safely in Toronto and were reunited with their loved ones.”
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“The crew has demonstrated incredible courage and resilience throughout the harrowing ordeal which saw them wrongly detained in the Dominican Republic for nearly eight months,” he mentioned.
“Their steadfast commitment to public safety and the rule of law is a testament to the professionalism of all Canadian air crew.”
The crew was detained in early April, after native authorities alleged that medication had been discovered at Punta Cana International Airport.
However, the Mississauga, Ont.-based airline has mentioned the crew themselves have been those who reported suspected medication on board their plane.
After they shared their considerations with native authorities, nonetheless, the Pivot Airlines crew was detained — and the airline CEO says whereas they’ve remained within the nation ever since, they’ve lived in concern, hiding from narco criminals livid with the crew’s resolution to inform officers in regards to the medication.
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In the assertion Thursday, Edmondson mentioned the airline is “tremendously grateful to all those who advocated on our crew’s behalf, including CUPE, ALPA, Unifor, Senator David Wells, as well as our government partners.”
“While we are relieved for the crew’s long overdue return, we know that this incident has taken a heavy toll on their lives, and the lives of their families,” the assertion learn.” For that purpose, we’re asking media and the general public to respect their privateness presently.”
Canada’s Transport Minister, Omar Alghabra, mentioned he’s “relieved” to see the crew again in Canada.
“Welcome back home!” he wrote in a tweet on Thursday.
In an announcement Thursday, Air Line Pilots Association International (ALPA) Canada President Tim Perry mentioned the union is “relieved for the safe return of the crew and knows the incident has had a profound effect on all of those involved.”
“This crew did exactly what was expected of them by notifying the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, local authorities, and their company, after discovering and then reporting contraband on their aircraft, yet they remained trapped in this horrible situation for nearly 8 months.”
Perry mentioned the crew exhibited “strength and courage” through the incident.
In a press launch, Unifor mentioned the union is “relieved” that its member, Bal Krishna Dubey, is “finally home in Canada in time for the holidays.”
“It’s been a long and exhausting journey for the crew,” mentioned Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Unifor supported our member throughout this ordeal and our union will continue to support him with all available resources as he recovers from this harrowing and traumatic experience.”
Dubey, a part-time electrical mechanic at Pivot Airlines, mentioned he’s “thankful” to be again in Canada.
“It’s been a long seven months,” he mentioned within the launch. “I am so thankful to be home and that Unifor gave me the support I needed to get here.”
— with recordsdata from Global News’ Rachel Gilmore
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
