Canadian stuck in T&T, blacklisted by airlines

A day after he appeared in court and was fined $8,000 for disorderly conduct while aboard an American Airlines flight, Canadian Jacques Heroux remained stuck in Trinidad after he was blacklisted by several airlines and denied a flight back home. Heroux, 48, of Three Rivers, Quebec, Canada, spent a second night at the Palms Hotel, Trincity, yesterday. He will return to the Piarco International Airport this morning, in the hope of securing a flight back to Canada.

The T&T Guardian learnt that the Canadian High Commission was approached yesterday to help Heroux leave the country. Heroux reappeared before Magistrate Adrian Darmanie in the Arima Second Court yesterday, represented by attorney Fareed Ali. He appeared on Monday charged with disorderly conduct while aboard AA 221, en route from Canada to Brazil, on November 24, and was granted $40,000 own bail.

Heroux’s subsequent behaviour around 5 am on November 24, forced the pilot to make an emergency landing at Piarco, where Heroux was kicked off the flight and taken into custody by Arima police. On Monday, Heroux told the magistrate he was on his way to meet his fiancee Adriana De Souza in Brazil and was nervous about the flight, so he drank approximately 40 ounces of Dewar’s scotch whisky to calm his nerves.

His intoxicated behaviour alarmed the flight crew after Heroux became unruly and belligerent towards the flight attendants. Ordering him to pay the fine forthwith yesterday, the magistrate stood the matter down to allow Heroux to make the payment or in default, he would serve six weeks’ hard labour.

Asked if he had learnt anything from this experience, Heroux vowed to stay away from alcohol in the future. He was charged with violating Section 60 of the Civil Aviation Act, which carries a maximum penalty of a fine of up to $25,000 and a year in prison.