Canadian pilots jailed after reporting cocaine stash on plane

Dominican Republic authorities have detained a Pivot Airlines flight crew after they called in a cocaine haul found in the plane's avionic bay. Pressure is mounting on the Dominican Republic to release the pilots and crew of a Canadian charter airline from custody after the crew found and reported a 200-kilogram stash of cocaine inside the plane's maintenance compartment. 

Eleven people, including nine Canadians, are in detention over the matter.

According to the Dominican Republic's National Directorate for Drug Control (DNCD), the Bombardier CRJ-100 jet  is operated by Toronto-based Pivot Airlines. The jet formerly belonged to now-defunct Air Georgian and operated Air Canada Express services on behalf of Air Canada. Dominican Republic media report the Bombardier is now flying in plain white colors rather than its former Air Canada livery.

According to Pivot Airlines, a maintenance worker employed by the airline found a bag stashed in the plane's avionics bay before departure on Tuesday the 5th April. The plane's crew called it in to local officials and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The DNCD, citing "intelligence reports," says it inspected the plane before departure. The Bombardier had arrived at Punta Cana Airport (PUJ/MDPC) from Toronto (YYZ/CYYZ) on the 31st March.

The DNCD found eight black packages, each containing 25 smaller packages, all firmly packed with a white powder presumed to be cocaine. Authorities promptly grounded the plane and detained all onboard, including the crew who reported the find.

Understandably, Pivot Airlines is deeply unimpressed and calling for the release of its crew. 

"It is unacceptable that a Canadian aircrew could remain detained for the duration of a potential twelve-month investigation for a suspected crime that they reported," a statement from the airline reads. "They do not speak the language, have been identified as reporting the contraband to authorities and fear for their safety. We are deeply concerned for the safety, security and ethical and humane treatment of our crew."

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Pivot Airlines

Code: ZX/GGN

Aircraft: Bombardier CRJ-100ER

Registration: C-FWRR

Serial Number: 7107

First Flew: March 1996

Aircraft History
15/04/1996 Air Canada C-FWRR 
01/07/2005 Jazz Aviation Stored 02/2013 C-FWRR 
22/04/2014 Air Georgian - Ceased operations Jan 2020 C-FWRR
(Stored 01/2020 to 05/2020
06/08/2020 Pivot Airlines C-FWRR 




Main part of the story sourced from here 

Canadian Pilots Jailed After Reporting Cocaine Stash On Plane (simpleflying.com)