Two passengers face significant financial penalties following a chaotic August 2024 flight operated by Flair Airlines. Corey Pancer and Deborah Bojman were each fined $4,000 by a Corner Brook court after their disruptive actions threatened the safety of a flight bound for Deer Lake.
A rare criminal precedent for Canadian airspace
For decades, disruptive passenger behavior in Canada was typically managed through airline bans or civil penalties rather than the criminal justice system. However, the recent ruling by Judge Wayne Gorman in Corner Brook marks a significant shift toward treating in-flight disturbances as serious criminal offenses when they jeopardize safety. As reported by the source, this case represents one of the first instances in decades where passengers have been charged with criminal offenses specifically due to the risk they posed to flight safety.
This legal escalation comes at a time when "air rage" incidents are becoming a more frequent concern for the aviation industry. By moving these cases into the provincial court system, judicial authorities are signaling that the safety of the cabin and the authority of the crew are not merely matters of airline policy, but matters of public law.
Corey Pancer’s refusal to follow cabin crew instructions
On August 28,2024, 56-year-old Corey Pancer turned a routine Flair Airlines service into a scene of chaos. According to court records,Pancer began his disruption by pulling himself out of his assigned seat and refusing to follow standard safety protocols. The report says Pancer's behavior escalated as he began proselytizing in the middle of the cabin and eventually removed his upper-body clothing.
Despite repeated exhortations from the cabin crew to return to his seat and replace his shirt, Pancer reportedly responded with profanity and cryptic gestures. The judge’s report noted that he was "yelling obscenities" while attempting to move through the cabin, creating an environment of instability for the other passengers on the flight to Deer Lake.
The disruptive conduct of Deborah Bojman
Deborah Bojman’s actions on the flight were equally severe and contributed to the overall breakdown of order within the aircraft. The court determined that Bojman showed a resolute lack of respect for the authority of the flight attendants, walking the aisles in a manner that caused distress among the passengers.
The details of the incident include Bojman stripping all clothing below her waist and walking between passenger seats while shouting. This behavior,which the court found interfered with lawful conduct and the safety of the flight,resulted in a $4 ,000 fine to ensure parity with Pancer’s sentence under the Criminal Code.
Judge Gorman’s concerns over the $4,000 penalty
While the financial penalties were significant, questions remain regarding whether these fines adequately reflect the gravity of endangering an aircraft. Judge Wayne Gorman noted during the proceedings that the sentences might not fully capture the seriousness of the crimes committed by Pancer and Bojman.
The court highlighted that the specific monetary penalty was influenced by the Crown's request for equal punishment between the two defendants. This leaves an open question for legal experts and aviation authorities: will the judicial system move toward more severe non-monetary punishments, such as community service or incarceration, to deter future instances of high-risk passenger misconduct?
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