Unruly airline passengers fined $4,000 each in Corner Brook court

A Corner Brook judge says he would have sentenced an unruly airline passenger to a period of imprisonment if the Crown had not suggested he receive the same sentence imposed on another passenger travelling on the flight with him.

Judge Wayne Gorman fined Corey Pancer $4,000 during a hearing in provincial court in Corner Brook on Sept. 29.

Prancer, 56, was convicted by Gorman of endangering the safety or security of an aircraft in flight and interfering with the lawful use of property. He had entered guilty pleas to both charges.

Pancer and Deborah Bojman were passengers on a Flair Airlines flight travelling to Deer Lake on Aug. 28, 2024. Gorman’s written decision does not indicate where they are from.

While the flight was taxiing, Pancer got out of his seat and refused to return to it when crew members instructed him to do so.

While standing, Pancer yelled obscenities at the crew and other passengers.

When he did return to his seat, Pancer refused to put on his seat belt and told the crew he did not have to listen to their instructions. He also took off his shirt.

Pancer later became upset when an item he wanted to purchase during the meal service was unavailable. He became very loud, saying that he was a lawyer and threatening to sue the airline and other passengers.

Pancer then walked up the aisle to the gallery area and began to yell at the flight’s first officer.

Bojman also refused to stay in her seat during the flight and she removed all her clothing below her waist and walked up and down the aisle. She was yelling at people and preventing the staff from safely conducting their duties.

According to Gorman’s written decision, the crew eventually separated Pancer and Bojman.

Bojman was charged with the same offences as Pancer and pleaded guilty before another judge. She was fined $4,000 and placed on probation.

The Crown suggested that Pancer should receive the same sentence.

After considering the evidence presented to him and the Crown’s suggested sentence, Gorman said he decided to accept the Crown’s submission in regard to the fine amount.

However, he said that results in a sentence that fails to reflect the seriousness of the offences.

He said he decided to accept the recommendation because of the sentence Bojman received and the requirement under the Criminal Code that he apply the principle of parity in sentencing in this case.

Gorman decided not to order a period of probation and said there is no indication that there is a need for supervision or that Pancer would benefit from any of the services the probation office can provide.

He said he was not provided with any information about Bojman’s circumstances.

Gorman said the offences committed by Pancer are very grave.

“In this case, Mr. Pancer purposely disrupted the flight and diverted the airline staff from their primary function: the safety of the passengers,” said Gorman.

He said Pancer’s moral culpability is at a very high level.

“His offences did not involve negligence or carelessness. He intentionally committed the offences with which he was charged, and he was persistent in his unlawful behaviour. In addition, Mr. Pancer would have known that he was endangering the safety of the flight and causing considerable anxiety for the crew and passengers on the flight,” said Gorman.

Another passenger on the flight described the incident in her victim impact statement as being “upsetting and disturbing.”

Gorman fined Pancer $2,000 for each offence for a total fine of $4,000.

He was also ordered to pay a 30 per cent victim fine surcharge, bringing the total he must pay to the court to $5,200.