Adedokun Waliyu 
A 54-year-old Hamilton was flying literally and figuratively.
Cops say that in a “highly uncommon incident,” officers were called to Steeltown’s John C. Munro International Airport just after 3 p.m. on Thursday to greet an Air Transat flight from Cayo Coco, Cuba.
The reason was a mid-air donnybrook triggered when a passenger decided he wanted to have a cigarette to accompany the booze he had pounded during the long flight from the tropics.
Police confirmed that alcohol was, indeed, a factor.
His quest to tango with Bic and Nic created a “general disturbance” on the flight. The pissed-up passenger allegedly made a slew of threats to the plane’s crew that cops say led to a “disruptive and unsafe environment.”
Some passengers tried to calm the situation down but that allegedly led to violence and some injuries, although none of the travellers needed to be taken to hospital.
Around an hour before the plane arrived, police were informed that there was a disturbance on board. When the Air Transat flight landed, cops rolled out the red carpet for the unruly passenger and he was arrested.
The man was hit with a trio of charges: Assault on an aircraft in flight, common nuisance-endangering life, and cause disturbance.
“Officers gathered evidence and statements from those reporting the incident, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the situation.” police said in a press release.
“Despite the unsettling circumstances, all passengers remained safe, and no one on the flight required medical treatment. The collaborative efforts of airline staff, passengers, and Hamilton Police were instrumental in bringing this incident to a swift and safe conclusion.”
