
It’s been 6 months considering the fact that a Canadian airline crew was detained in the Dominican Republic right after locating prescription drugs on board and reporting them to the authorities.

With court docket proceedings hindered because of to Hurricane Fiona, the CEO of Pivot Airways claims there isn’t a working day that goes by in which the crew of 5 really do not worry for their upcoming.

“They’ve had just an exceptionally tricky time period as you can think about,” Eric Edmondson explained. “They’ve missed birthdays and vacations. We’re coming up on Thanksgiving and they desperately overlook their families.”

The crew was initially detained on April 5 immediately after obtaining a lot more than 200 kilograms of cocaine on their aircraft when at the Punta Cana airport.

Together with six passengers, the crew was scheduled to fly to Toronto that day. Instead, they were taken into custody.

The crew was released on bail later on in April, but under the affliction that they remain in the Dominican Republic. It is unclear if the travellers keep on to be detained.

Edmondson said that Pivot has organized for the crew to are living in a “safe house” in a gated group when they wait for the court situation to appear to an finish. They have been moved four to five instances for “security good reasons,” he states.

Even though the 5 Canadians are allowed relative independence in the gated neighborhood, Edmondson states morale is extremely lower.

“They’re frightened for their life. They’re afraid for the end result of this bogus cost that they are experiencing,” he explained. “They all have superior days and undesirable days, but the poor days are additional frequent as time goes on.”

Edmondson claims a motion was filed on Aug. 31 to dismiss the case “fundamentally on the lack of proof.” He says the crew hasn’t been interrogated and it would be difficult to collect new proof at this time.

“We’ve been ready quietly. We had some great momentum on the file for a few of weeks,” he said. “And whilst we are progressing towards a very good outcome, then Hurricane Fiona went by means of the Dominican.”

The airline is hopeful the crew will be able to occur residence shortly, but Edmondson also described the Dominican process as the “wild west.”

At the crew’s July 21 hearing, the prosecutor tried to reverse their bail and deliver them back again to jail. The hearing was adjourned for the reason that there was no English translator existing.

In a assertion to CTV Information Toronto, Global Affairs Canada stated they are informed of the incident involving Pivot Airways and that the protection and security of its citizens is their “first precedence.”

“Canadian officers continue on to monitor the predicament closely, are engaging with neighborhood authorities, and offering consular help. Thanks to privacy factors, no further information can be disclosed.”

In the meantime, Pivot Airlines is urging persons to reconsider flying to the Dominican and to vacation elsewhere for their family vacation.
