Drunk RIM executives thrown from Air Canada flight

by Steven Mostyn - Dec 6 2011, 05:06

The reputation of Research In Motion (RIM) has become somewhat tarnished this week following news that a flight from Toronto to Beijing was forced to make an unscheduled landing due to the alcohol-fueled antics of two of its executives.

The Air Canada flight to China touched down in Vancouver when flight crew determined that the drunken behavior of 45-year-old George Campbell and 38-year-old Paul Wilson had escalated beyond control.

Although exact details of what transpired aboard the plane have not been divulged, reports suggest flight crew and passengers combined to restrain the two men, who were then removed from the flight in handcuffs.

“RIM does not condone behavior that conflicts with applicable laws and employees are expected to act, at all times, with integrity and respect,” the Ontario-based company said in an official statement.

The executives, who have since been fired by RIM, were handed suspended sentences and placed on a year’s probation after pleading guilty to causing “mischief” aboard the international flight.

The two disgraced former RIM employees were each ordered to pay approximately $35,000 USD in restitution to Air Canada for disrupting its services—and they will not be allowed to travel by air during their probationary period.

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