Justin Trudeau's plane breaks down during lavish Jamaican holiday: Report
Second time in four months a PM plane has been grounded
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Justin Trudeau’s latest vacation gaffe has taken yet another turn.
On the heels of news that the Prime Minister and his family were gifted the Christmastime getaway – at a former slave plantation in Jamaica – comes word the Canadian Armed Forces sent a second plane to Jamaica this week.
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Justin Trudeau's plane breaks down during lavish Jamaican holiday: Report Back to video
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Why? The military aircraft that brought Trudeau to the Caribbean island for the family vacation reportedly became “unserviceable.”
Andrée-Anne Poulin, spokesperson for the Department of National Defence (DND), confirmed two Royal Canadian Air Force CC-144 Challengers travelled to Jamaica, according to a CBC report on Friday.
“The first aircraft that transported the Prime Minister’s party became unserviceable after arrival,” Poulin wrote in an emailed response, per the CBC report. “The second aircraft brought a maintenance team to repair the first aircraft, and remained in the area as a backup for the Prime Minister’s departure, if necessary.”
It was not immediately clear what happened to Trudeau’s plane or when it became unserviceable.
It’s also not clear what costs might be associated with the aircraft issues.
The plane that took the Prime Minister to Jamaica was one of the military’s newer Challenger aircraft.
It’s the second instance in less than four months where a plane transporting Trudeau was grounded due to mechanical issues.
Trudeau’s departure from India after a G20 summit meeting September was delayed two days after pre-flight checks showed a part on the CC-150 Polaris was faulty and had to be replaced.
Security protocol dictates that Trudeau is required to travel on military planes.
Trudeau and family members flew to Montego Bay, Jamaica on Dec. 26.
The PMO originally said he would be paying for his family’s accommodations but later flip-flopped and said Trudeau and his family were staying in Jamaica “at no cost at a location owned by family friends.”
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The Prime Minister’s Office declined to comment on the problems with the plane Friday, per the CBC, and referred questions to DND.
On Thursday afternoon, flight tracking sites showed the two Challengers flying back to Ottawa with the second one not far behind the PM’s plane.
Trudeau’s vacations have raised many an eyebrow. His trip to visit the Aga Khan on a private island in 2016 resulted in a former ethics commissioner finding Trudeau violated ethics rules that prohibit ministers from accepting gifts or other advantages.
The Jamaican property currently rents out for $7,000 USD per night meaning the nine-night trip – from Dec. 26 to Jan. 4 – could have cost $63,000 USD or $84,000 CAD just for the accommodation.
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