KELOWNA – A Summerland man pleaded guilty Friday to charges stemming from a bomb threat at the Kelowna airport in October.
The threat grounded a Westjet flight to Calgary for several hours, while passengers were forced to wait in the plane, as police searched the aircraft and luggage.
“Three hours we sat there waiting for them to take us off that plane, no bathroom, no facilities, no nothing,” said passenger Steve Vadnais at the time. “I think they should have gotten us off the plane first and then dealt with the situation later.”
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As the event was unfolding, police arrested 35-year-old Michael Joseph Paul Howells inside the airport terminal.
Howells has pleaded guilty to mischief for disrupting the operations of Westjet Airlines and Kelowna International Airport.
He also admitted to public mischief for causing police to investigate by falsely reporting an offensive weapon or explosive substance was on an aircraft.
Three other charges will likely be dropped by the Crown at a later date.
The judge ordered a pre-sentence report be prepared.
Howells returns to court October 15th.
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