Man charged in bomb threat at Waterloo airport has died, lawyer says

KITCHENER - A man accused of making a bomb threat on an airliner at the Region of Waterloo International Airport has died.

The Mississauga man, 29, was charged on Dec. 13, 2021, after a passenger on a Flair Airlines jet told staff that another passenger made a threat about having a bomb.

The plane was evacuated and the airport was placed on lockdown.

Brian Irvine, the man's defence lawyer, told Kitchener court on Wednesday that his client died on March 9. He did not disclose the cause of death.

The last time I was in court ... they didn't have any proof of his death," Irvine told a justice of the peace. The Crown would not withdraw the charge, and so I'm here. He clearly has passed away, and the (police) officer in charge called me to say, I confirm it.' "

The justice of the peace said an email from Waterloo Regional Police confirms the man died and the charges had been withdrawn.

Oh, they were?" Irvine said. Thank you."

The bomb threat was reported by the Breslau airport at 2 p.m., 10 minutes before the plane was scheduled to depart for Vancouver. That flight and several others were delayed.

Members of the police explosives team searched the plane and found nothing.

The man was charged with uttering a threat and mischief by wilfully interfering with all passengers and crew aboard aircraft Flair Flight 500."

He was granted bail two days after being charged. Bail conditions included a ban on using an airplane, bus or train. He was also barred from contacting any known employee of Flair Airlines.

Gordon Paul is a Waterloo Region-based reporter focusing on crime for The Record. Reach him via email: gpaul@therecord.com