Calgary Woman Among 12 To Return Home After Being Held In The Dominican Republic For Months
They were detained after cocaine was found on their flight.
Brittney Wojcik-Harrison. Right: A Pivot airplane.
A Calgary woman who was being held in the Dominican Republic after drugs were found on board an airplane is due to return home after being detained in the country for over seven months.
Photographer Brittney Wojcik-Harrison was among the passengers and Pivot Airlines crew members who were held in the country for over 220 days after the crew reported "suspected contraband" on board the aircraft to Dominican authorities on April 5, 2022.
Authorities in the Dominican Republic said they seized over 200 kilograms of what was confirmed to be cocaine.
According to CTV, the plane's seven passengers and five crew members were first detained in jail — the crew for nine days and the passengers for 21 — before being released on bail, but have not been allowed to leave the country.
Bella Harrison, Wojcik-Harrison's cousin, told CTV News she burst into tears after hearing she would be returning home.
"She was crying too — she couldn't believe it. She found out after we found out. She is shocked, too, and is really excited to come home," Harrison said.
In a statement to Narcity, Eric Edmonson, CEO of Pivot Airlines, said he was "deeply relieved" that the paperwork had been filed to release the five crew members.
Pending final court sign-off, the process would shortly begin to grant the documentation and approvals needed to get the crew home to their families and loved ones, he added.
Edmonson reportedly confirmed to the Calgary Herald that the deal also applies to the seven passengers.
However, Edmonson said there is no timeline yet for their return as there have been "considerable delays and uncertainty" throughout the case and there is still a "very real potential for unforeseen delays."
The airline is working with the Government of Canada, the crew's union and legal counsel to make sure the crew are brought home safely.
In a statement to Narcity, Captain Rob Di Venenzo, one of the detained crew members, said they are "beyond relieved" after facing months of "constant uncertainty."
"These last seven months have been the most difficult thing any of us have ever experienced ...Today, the nightmare is finally one step closer to being over," he said.
"Even though we have paid an unimaginable price, we know we did the right thing by reporting those drugs seven months ago."