Canadian airline crew and passengers, detained in Dominican Republic since spring, now granted freedom
Twelve Canadians who have been detained in the Dominican Republic since last spring learned Friday that they are going home.
The prosecutor in the case, west of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, has submitted the paperwork to free the five airline crew members and seven passengers of Pivot Air, a Toronto-based company that had been chartered by the passengers to fly to the tropical Island on March 31.
It still needs to certified by a judge, but that is considered to be a formality.
On April 5, as they were preparing to fly the group back to Canada, the Pivot air mechanic discovered 8 duffle bags stashed in the avionics bay in the belly of the plane. The crew immediately notified local authorities. Inside the bags: 210 kilograms of cocaine.
The crew and passengers had their passports confiscated and were detained in what they describe as deplorable conditions in a Dominican jail.
In interviews with W5, the female passengers say their cell was so small and crowded that when they lay down on the concrete to sleep, their feet extended beyond the bars. They also claim they were punished for crying.
At the prison for men, the crew members say they went days without food or water, and were under constant threats.
The crew spent nine days in jail, the passengers 21, before being released on bail, but they were barred from leaving the country. Since their detention 250 days ago, the crew has been trapped in Dominican Republic unable to leave while authorities claim to be investigating how the cocaine ended up in the 50-seat jet.
The crew and passengers say they were never once interviewed by Dominican authorities and no charges were ever laid against them.
The documents signed today outlined the end to what is described as the “coercive measurements,” which means the detainment of the 12 Canadians and the seizure of the plane. It is unclear how long it will take before the 12 Canadians can leave the country and return to Canada. They have been told it could take up to two weeks to process the paperwork.
In a joyous celebration at the Pivot Air safe house, the crew members hugged each other and cried in disbelief. In an emotional phone call to break the good news to his daughter, Pivot air pilot Rob DiVenanzo said, through tears, “Girl, I am coming home.”
Watch W5’s documentary, 'Investigation Cocaine Air' on Dec. 10, 2022
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
Toronto eliminated from PWHL playoffs
Toronto has been eliminated from the PWHL playoffs.
Information commissioner faces $700K funding shortfall, says system is 'overwhelmed'
Canada's information commissioner says her office is facing a $700,000 funding shortfall that could impact its ability to investigate complaints about government transparency and accountability.
B.C. man 'attacked suddenly' by adult grizzly near Alberta boundary: RCMP
A B.C. man is recovering from multiple injuries after he was "attacked suddenly" by an adult grizzly bear near Elkford Thursday afternoon.
Backlash over NFL player Harrison Butker's commencement speech has reached a new level
The NFL is distancing itself from controversial comments by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker during a recent commencement address.
Dabney Coleman, actor who specialized in curmudgeons, dies at 92
Dabney Coleman, the mustachioed character actor who specialized in smarmy villains like the chauvinist boss in '9 to 5' and the nasty TV director in 'Tootsie,' has died. He was 92.
Craig Berube named as next head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have named Craig Berube as their new head coach.
Local Spotlight
'Another pair of eyes watching over me:' How a B.C. woman's service dog saved her from drowning
A B.C. woman says her service dog pulled her from a lake moments before she had a seizure, saving her life.
Starbucks fan on decades-long journey to visit every store in the world
A Starbucks fan — whose name is Winter — is visiting Canada on a purposeful journey that began with a random idea at one of the coffee chain's stores in Texas.
'Sacred work': Sask. First Nation learning how to conduct its own underground searches
Members of Piapot First Nation, students from the University of Winnipeg and various other professionals are learning new techniques that will hopefully be used for ground searches of potential unmarked grave sites in the future.
'It could mean a cure': Cautious optimism for groundbreaking ALS research at Western
ALS patient Mathew Brown said he’s hopeful for future ALS patients after news this week of research at Western University of a potential cure for ALS.
B.C. musician's song catches attention of Canucks
When Adam Kirschner wrote 'Slap Shot,' he never imagined the song would be embraced by his favourite team.
'We're on standby': Team ready to help entangled right whale in Gulf of St. Lawrence
A team is ready to help an entangled North Atlantic right whale in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Thieves caught on camera stealing pet chicken from North Vancouver backyard
A $200 reward is being offered by a North Vancouver family for the safe return of their beloved chicken, Snowflake.
Adopted daughter in the Netherlands reunited with sister in Montreal and mother in Colombia, 40 years later
Two daughters and a mother were reunited online 40 years later thanks to a DNA kit and a Zoom connection despite living on three separate continents and speaking different languages.
'Reimagining Mother's Day': Toronto woman creates Motherless Day event after losing mom
Mother's Day can be a difficult occasion for those who have lost or are estranged from their mom.