#alternate alternate National Post WordPress.com [track?event_type=PAGE_VIEW&noscript=1] * Sign In/Register * Subscribe National Post Search NationalPost.com ... ____________________ * News + All News + National + World + Toronto + Politics * Full Comment * Sports + All Sports + NHL o All NHL o Vancouver Canucks o Calgary Flames o Edmonton Oilers o Winnipeg Jets o Toronto Maple Leafs o Ottawa Senators o Montreal Canadiens + Baseball + Basketball o NBA o NCAA + Football o CFL o NFL + Soccer + Golf o Golf Videos + Tennis * Culture + All Culture + Books + Celebrity + Movies + Music + Theatre + Television * Life + All Life + Health + Homes + Eating & Drinking + Style + Travel + Life By Design + Parenting * More + Horoscopes * Driving * Classifieds + Flyercity + Local Directory * Jobs * Subscribe * Financial Post * Video Air Force examining whether crew abused by VIPs on boozy military flight should get formal apology The behaviour of some VIPs was so out of control that a February 2018 RCAF investigation concluded the safety of the flight was compromised A Facebook video shows the party aboard a military flight that led to a sex assault charge against Tiger Williams.facebook/rick.ekstein David Pugliese, Ottawa Citizen David Pugliese, Ottawa Citizen November 1, 2018 8:25 PM EDT Filed under * News * Canada Comment [icon-facebook.svg] Facebook [icon-twitter.svg] Twitter [icon-reddit.svg] Reddit [icon-email.svg] Email [icon-share.svg] More [button_close_black.svg] Share this story Air Force examining whether crew abused by VIPs on boozy military flight should get formal apology [icon-tumblr.svg] Tumblr [icon-pinterest.svg] Pinterest [icon-googleplus.svg] Google+ [icon-linkedin.svg] LinkedIn The Canadian Air Force is examining whether the drunk VIPs who harassed a military flight crew last year on a morale tour should apologize, according to documents obtained by Postmedia. Some of the VIPs on the taxpayer-funded Canadian Forces tour were abusive but the military flight crew trying to deal with them felt they had no choice but endure the behaviour as the individuals were guests of Canada’s top soldier, Gen. Jon Vance, a recently released military investigation found. The civilian passengers were exempt from security screening because they were VIPs and some — already drunk — walked on to the Canadian Forces aircraft with alcoholic drinks in their hands. The December 2017 VIP trip to Greece and Latvia, which cost taxpayers $337,000, resulted in a sex assault charge earlier this year against former NHL player Dave “Tiger” Williams and a public relations black eye for the Forces. The trip, planned by Vance’s office, has been dubbed the “party” flight by some military personnel because of what unfolded on the RCAF Polaris aircraft. Video from the flight shows people with their drinks — including one of Vance’s staff — dancing in the aisles of the aircraft as a rock band plays at the back of the plane. Others chewed tobacco, in violation of Canadian Forces rules, spitting the slimy juice into cups, according to the investigation. There were allegations two individuals were so drunk they urinated themselves. * Crew told not to rein in drunk, abusive VIP guests on Canadian military ‘party flight,’ probe finds * Controversial Canadian military VIP ‘party flight’ cost taxpayers more than $337K * Photos suggest partying on past military VIP junkets not a one-time incident as top general claims Air Force brass had a good idea of some of what happened just days after the flight and on Dec. 12, 2017 launched a crackdown on how alcohol was to be served on such VIP excursions, the newly released records obtained by Postmedia indicate. Then RCAF commander Lt.-Gen. Michael Hood ordered the commander of 1 Canadian Air Division to not only further investigate the allegations but examine “whether an acceptable form of restitution was possible to include a formal apology, if warranted and acceptable to those involved.” The Canadian Forces did not provide comment on whether the crew will receive an apology. But the behaviour of some VIPs was so out of control that a February 2018 RCAF investigation concluded the safety of the flight was compromised. “The state of some of the passengers could have compromised the safety of the crew and other passengers in an emergency situation,” noted Col. Mark Goulden, commander of 8 Wing. The Canadian Forces has not provided information on the VIPs on the aircraft or which ones were inebriated. Initial details of the “alleged sexual harassment and touching” on the aircraft were transmitted to dozens of RCAF senior staff on Dec. 6, 2017. There was concern within the Forces that the news media might find out about what happened, according to the documents obtained under the Access to Information law. [tiger-williams-1.png?w=640] Years before the 2017 “party flight” that led to sexual assault and assault charges against him, former NHL player Dave “Tiger” Williams, left, is seen on a 2010 military morale tour to Afghanistan with what appear to be beads stuck up his nose. thecarpetfrogs.com Military police charged Williams on Feb. 7 with sexual assault as well as assault but few details were released about the events on the plane. The alleged victim is a female military flight attendant. Williams has denied any wrongdoing. Vance indicated on Dec. 6 that he knew about the role excessive alcohol played on the flight, the documents noted. On Feb. 13, 2018, Chris Henderson, the Defence Department’s assistant deputy minister of public affairs, updated Vance and Deputy Minister Jody Thomas about the answers he was going to supply Postmedia, according to the documents. Those included the claim that “on this particular flight, like on commercial flights, alcohol was permitted and served to Team Canada guests.” But Henderson’s claim flies in the face of what was already known by the military leadership as well as the Air Force investigation. Besides boarding the aircraft drunk, with open alcoholic beverages, the VIPs had a cooler full of booze set up on the plane, where they were able to serve themselves. The alcohol was authorized by Vance and paid for by his staff. In addition, in the statement provided to Postmedia, Henderson also claimed that the “average cost of such a visit is $15,000.” Postmedia later compiled figures showing the flight cost taxpayers more than $337,000. • Email: dpugliese@postmedia.com | Twitter: davidpugliese 0 Comments Share your thoughts Top News Videos * WatchJourney to the far side of the moon: Everything you need to know about 'Luna Incognita' * WatchChris Selley: Supply management be damned. Is Canada on the brink of a butter revolution? * WatchFirst photos of dark side of the moon carry symbolic message about China's space power * WatchBaby rescued after nearly 36 hours in frozen rubble of collapsed apartment in Russia Share your feedback We want to improve your reading experience Take our 60-second survey Close Daily Headline News Thank you for subscribing to Postmedia's Newsletter. Email ____________________ By clicking "Submit", I consent to receiving the above communication from Postmedia Network Inc. 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