A Laval man who was arrested last Thursday on allegations of unruly behaviour on a Sunwing flight was denied bail after appearing in court Monday afternoon.
Prosecutors highlighted the seriousness of the charges and the suspect's potential for reoffending while on bail.
The plane was bound for Cuba, intercepted by American fighter jets and escorted back to Trudeau airport, where Charalabos Nassios was arrested.
Nassios, 39, is facing several charges and was hoping to be released on bail.
He faces charges of assault, death threats, breach of conditions, and threat to aviation security.
The prosecution explained that there was plenty of evidence on-hand to justify Nassios being remanded to police custody. Mid-flight, he was visibly drunk and terrifying flight attendants -- even threatening to cut off a woman's nose.
Nassios, who was arraigned on Friday, spent the weekend in jail. He maintains that he consumed one beer and two Gravol before boarding the plane.
If convicted for interrupting the flight, Nassios could be handed a life sentence.
Crown prosecutors refused to allow his immediate release on bail due to the seriousness of the accusation. Further, Nassios was under a previous court order not to drink or disturb the peace in relation to a previous charge of assault from last January.
Nassios admits that he sought therapy for a cocaine problem in the spring, but doesn't feel like he needs to return to address the on-board scuffle since he generally considers himself to be a "calm person."
On Monday morning, Nassios was briefly seen by a psychologist to evaluate his state of mind.
Nassios is expected back in court at the end of July.
