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Passenger charged after flight diverted

Police say a passenger who somehow managed to get on board an Air Canada plane with a bottle of booze and a lighter caused a disturbance that diverted the flight.

WINNIPEG — Police say a passenger who somehow managed to get on board an Air Canada plane with a bottle of booze and a lighter caused a disturbance that diverted the flight.

A man who boarded the aircraft in Edmonton on Tuesday afternoon was loud and belligerent and refused directions from the crew to quiet down, police said Wednesday.

It was then that crew members noticed he had a bottle of hard liquor, believed to be vodka.

“They observed that he was in possession of some alcohol. They made attempts to retrieve that,” Const. Jason Michalyshen said.

“Things just quite simply escalated to the point where he tried to light a cigarette. A crew member tried to take that lighter or cigarette away. I think the male grabbed onto the crew member’s wrist or arm, not causing any serious injuries, but things quite simply were escalating.”

The plane, which was on its way to Toronto, turned around and landed in Winnipeg, where city police arrested the suspect.

Byron Pinksen, 41, of Grande Prairie faces six charges that include uttering threats, mischief endangering life and damaging or interfering with a crew member.

He has been detained at the Winnipeg Remand Centre.

Police were not sure how the liquor and lighter got through security, Michalyshen said.