Drunken RIM executives chewed through restraints aboard Air Canada flight

Some additional details have emerged regarding the bender two RIM executives went on aboard an Air Canada flight that lead to their termination. Apparently this incident involved a little bit more than your average drunken shenanigans. CBC News obtained court transcripts that paint a chaotic picture of the ruckus that was caused on board.

The two executives, George Campbell, 45, and Paul Alexander Wilson, 38, were described by fellow passengers as “quite intoxicated” when they boarded the plane. One passenger, when asked to describe their behavior after take off, said,
Campbell, in particular, threatened to “off people when they left the plane.” He later lay on his belly in the aisle and started kicking the floor. One of the two also assaulted a flight attendant and threatened to punch another flight attendant. Eventually, crew members attempted to restrain the men with plastic handcuffs and tape, but Campbell and Wilson managed to “chew their way through their restraints.”

This behavior is what caused the flight to be diverted. Originally the plan was to land in Anchorage, but as the situation became direr, the decision was made to land in Vancouver. Several flight attendants and a few passengers restrained the two men for the remaining 80 minutes of the flight, while the rest of the passengers were forced to remain in their seats because the crew had initialed a “lockdown situation.”

The prosecution in this case described the men’s behavior as “way over the top.” Although both men have pleaded guilty to mischief and ordered to pay Air Canada a combined $77,000, Air Canada is estimating that the ordeal cost them close to $200,000 and is expected to sue for the remaining balance.

source: CBC News via SlashGear