Russian world junior team kicked off flight over mask violations, disruptive behavior

[bullwinkle428]

Following the cancellation of the 2022 world junior championship on Dec. 29 due to the spread of COVID-19, players and coaches were understandably disappointed to miss out on the experience of a lifetime.

While some aired their frustrations online or through the media, others seem to have let their discontent regrettably get the most of them.

A flight departing from Calgary and destined for Frankfurt, Germany was delayed for several hours on New Year's Eve due to disturbances by the Russian team, according to a report by the Calgary Herald. The teams were eventually kicked off the plane for failing to comply with in-flight safety measures, among other infractions. Russia head coach Sergei Zubov told Russian newspaper Izvestia that the teams were removed from the flight because they violated the “very strict” mask rules.

Team Czechia was also removed from the flight, but according to GM Otakar Černý, they were wrongly accused and later received an apology from Air Canada.

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/russian-world-junior-team-kicked-off-calgary-flight-over-mask-violations-disruptive-behaviour-204028328.html

[Walleye]

1. Well the Russians take performance-enhancing drugs. Maybe the steroids got to them

[rsdsharp]

2. Based on the picture at the top of the article, I assume that this is a hockey team.

But nowhere does the article mention WHICH Russian junior team was involved.

[Bev54]

3. It was after cancellation of the World Juniors Hockey tournament

that was cancelled after a few games because of covid infections. Not only was the Russian team coaches or managers refusing to adhere to mask mandates but they were trying to smoke on the plane and police were called. The Chechian team's jackets were very similar to the Russian team, thus the mixup. There was also the Finn team on the same plane but they were allowed to reboard, once all the others were removed. Why they thought they would get away with such behaviour is a mystery to me, are they really able to smoke on planes in Russia? I am sure they bully airline attendants there but in a foreign country? Stupidity and arrogance.

[3catwoman3]

4. I noticed that, too, and found it...

…rather odd.

[stopdiggin]

5. smoking as well?! Waaza!

I gotta wonder how much vodka was downed before climbing aboard? Downright stupid.