Passengers Removed from Air Canada Flight for Refusing to Sit in Vomit-Covered Seats

Two passengers on an Air Canada flight from Seattle to Montreal were removed from the plane after refusing to occupy seats that were reportedly covered in vomit. The incident, which occurred on August 26, has drawn widespread attention, with fellow passenger Susan Benson sharing her account of the ordeal on social media.

Two passengers on an Air Canada flight from Seattle to Montreal found themselves in an unsettling situation when they were asked to sit in seats that were allegedly soiled with vomit. The incident has raised concerns about airline cleanliness and passenger treatment.

According to Susan Benson, who was seated near the affected area, the passengers initially noticed an unpleasant odor but were unaware of the cause. Benson later revealed in a viral Facebook post that, “Apparently, on the previous flight someone had vomited in that area. Air Canada attempted a quick cleanup before boarding but clearly wasn’t able to do a thorough clean.”

The seats and seatbelts were reportedly visibly wet, and remnants of vomit were still present, causing a nauseating environment. In an attempt to mask the smell, passengers resorted to placing perfume and coffee grinds in the seat pouch.

Concerned about the unhygienic conditions, the passengers alerted a flight attendant, describing the situation as “unacceptable.” Susan Benson, who spoke about the incident, emphasized that the passengers were not confrontational but rather firm in their refusal to sit in the affected seats.

In response, the flight attendants expressed their apologies, attributing the issue to a miscommunication with the cleaning crew the previous night. Unfortunately, they stated that no alternative seats were available.

After some negotiation, passengers were provided with blankets, wipes, and additional vomit bags, reluctantly settling in for the five-hour flight. However, the situation took a turn for the worse when the pilot intervened, giving the passengers an ultimatum.

According to Benson’s Facebook post, the pilot told the passengers they had two options: leave the plane at their own expense and arrange alternative flights, or be escorted off the plane by security and placed on a no-fly list. Security personnel subsequently removed the two women from the aircraft.

The incident caused a delay of 31 minutes but the flight ultimately reached Montreal safely.

Susan Benson shared her account online, tagging Air Canada to draw attention to the matter. Air Canada, in response to the incident, told Insider, “We are reviewing this serious matter internally and have followed up with the customers directly as our operating procedures were not followed correctly in this instance. This includes apologizing to these customers, as they clearly did not receive the standard of care to which they were entitled and addressing their concerns.”

While Air Canada has acknowledged the issue, passengers and concerned individuals hope for concrete actions to prevent such incidents in the future. Susan Benson stressed, “I really hope they actually do something and not just say they do to keep the peace. (The passengers) weren’t unreasonable at all in my opinion.”

The incident has raised questions about airline cleanliness, passenger rights, and the importance of clear communication and resolution procedures in such situations.