Multiple Canadian airlines are refusing to fly home a group of social media influencers after a video went viral of them partying without masks on a chartered Sunwing flight on Dec. 30.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke at a news conference on Wednesday and called the group "idiots" as COVID-19 cases are rising due to the omicron variant. He added that posting a video of a maskless party was a "slap in the face."
"There will be a full investigation into exactly what went on in this situation," Trudeau said. "I think like all Canadians who have seen those videos, I’m extremely frustrated. We know how hard people have worked to keep themselves safe, to limit their family gatherings at Christmas time, to wear masks, to get vaccinated, to do all the right things, and it’s slap in the face to see people putting themselves, putting their fellow citizens, putting airline workers at risk by being completely irresponsible.
The videos show a large group singing and dancing together in a small space on the plane without a mask in sight. The group was flying from Montreal to Mexico.
Now, the group is stranded in Cancun after Sunwing cancelled their return flight. Air Canada and Air Transat followed suit and prevented them from flying back home.
Air Transat said in a statement on Twitter that the group of passengers "will be denied boarding based on our legal and regulatory obligations to ensure the safety of both our passengers and crew, which is our top priority."
Rebecca St. Pierre, a 19-year-old student from Quebec who was on the plane, told The Canadian Press that she tested positive for COVID-19 along with about 30 other people. She is now stranded in Cancun without a way home.
St. Pierre said she was on the flight because of a free trip contest on Instagram hosted by social media influencer James William Awad. He said on Twitter that it was a "simply party" and will take the time to learn from his mistake.
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