Air Canada passenger pleads guilty in flight-disruption case

Ontario man now facing possible prison sentence

An Ontario man who pleaded guilty in a case involving a dramatic disturbance on an Air Canada flight is now facing the prospect of a lengthy prison sentence.

Brandon Courneyea’s admission of interference with a flight attendant, entered last month in an Orlando, Fla., courtroom, carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 (U.S.) fine.

The charge related to Courneyea’s conduct aboard an Air Canada flight that was bringing him home from a brief vacation in Jamaica in May.

“Defendant is pleading guilty because defendant is in fact guilty,” reads the plea agreement filed in the case. “Were this case to go to trial, the United States would be able to prove those specific facts and others beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Courneyea’s troubles began on May 15 shortly before boarding the Air Canada flight from Montego Bay to Toronto. His wife previously told The Canadian Press her husband had taken a tropical vacation at her urging, but moved up his plans to return home after allegedly receiving death threats.

According to court documents, Courneyea took an undisclosed quantity of cocaine before getting on the plane. Once on board, his plea agreement shows, he quickly came to the attention of flight attendants when he began disrupting the flight. The document said Courneyea yelled at people for looking at him, threw paper at one of his fellow passengers and moved erratically through the aircraft without shoes.

When flight crew tried to get him to return to his seat, the document said he went to the back of the plane and began swinging a hot coffee pot at passengers and crew.

The flight was diverted to Orlando, where Courneyea was arrested.

Florida-based lawyer Corey Cohen, who represents Courneyea, said Courneyea’s sentencing is currently set for Sept. 11.