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No Joke: Passenger Causes Plane to Return Due to Faking Coronavirus

a plane icon on a map
Written by Charlie

With the coronavirus on the move, joking about it is a big no-no. Especially on an airplane which happened recently. Charges have been filed.

The coronavirus out of China is no laughing matter. While some are making jokes about it or putting it down because it hasn’t killed as many people as the yearly flu, the truth is that people have still died from it and entire cities are getting turned upside down in an effort to stop the virus from spreading more.

Passenger Caused Plane To Turn Around with Coronavirus “Joke”

That is why even joking about having the coronavirus can cause great panic. It has already spread to the US in several cases as well as many other countries and passengers especially are nervous about the spread of this virus.

Yet, one passenger thought it would be just that – a joke – to stand up and announced he had been in China had contracted coronavirus. This was on WestJet 2702 from Toronto to Montego Bay, Jamaica. It was apparently over two hours into the flight (passengers said they were over Florida at the time).

The captain, when hearing this, decided it was best to return to Toronto. The cabin crew gave him a mask and gloves and moved him to the back of the plane. Apparently, the captain believed it to be a hoax but certainly wasn’t going to take any chances.

The man was arrested and charged and will be due to appear in court next month. The 243 passengers inconvenienced by this “joke” will still get down to Jamaica but it would take an extra day. WestJet added an additional flight yesterday (Tuesday) to make sure they got them there.

I know that an airline has been successful for suing a passenger for damages when the passenger caused the plane to be delayed similar to this. I hope the same thing happens here as well since this certainly cost WestJet a lot of money and cost the passengers one day of their vacation away from the snowy north.

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About the author

Charlie

Charlie has been an avid traveler and runner for many years. He has run in marathons around the world for less than it would cost to travel to the next town - all as a result of collecting and using miles and points. Over the years, he has flown hundreds of thousands of miles and collected millions of miles and points.
Now he uses this experience and knowledge to help others through Running with Miles.

1 Comment

  • I hope all the passengers sue the idiot too for lost days they still had to pay for at their hotels.

    Imagine departing frigid Toronto for the tropics that many have been saving up for, nearly arriving there, only for said idiot to make them return.