HAMILTON, Bermuda (CMC) — A 60-year-old Canadian was fined US$1,000 after he admitted to drunken and disruptive behaviour that forced his Caribbean-bound flight to divert to Bermuda last weekend.

The Magistrates’ Court heard on Monday that Joseph Matrundola demanded alcohol, shouted and swore and had to be restrained on the floor by other passengers on the flight last Friday night.

The pilot of the Air Transat flight, en route from Montreal to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic with 164 passengers and crew on board, diverted to Bermuda where Matrundola was arrested.

The court heard that Matrundola’s wife told cabin crew that he had taken prescription pills before the flight.

Matrundola later admitted he had also had seven double-strength drinks before boarding. He told Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo “I beg the court’s forgiveness. I’m so sorry for what happened.”

Matrundola said that he was taking pills for depression caused by the loss of his job, adding “I didn’t mean to do this. It was a big mistake.”

Matrundola was fined US$500 for acting in a disruptive behaviour aboard an aircraft and US$500 for being drunk aboard the plane.