The pilot claims to have been traumatized by his arrest and ensuing detainment and media scrutiny
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After being arrested and subsequently getting his license suspended, a pilot is suing Blue Cross to get the insurer to pay his salary.
According to CTV News, Air Transat pilot Jean-Francois Perreault was arrested in Glasgow, Scotland, last year along with his co-pilot, Imran Zafar Syed, after they were accused of trying to drink and fly. The arrest caused the flight bound for Toronto to be delayed for 22 hours. After being detained for several days, Perreault was released on bail, at which point news of the arrest had already made headlines.
He claimed that immediately after getting arrested, he received a doctor’s note and went on sick leave. Upon his return to Canada, his sick leave was extended to a year, which led to the suspension of his pilot’s license.
Perreault is currently still on leave, and he says that his arrest, detainment, and scrutiny by the media have traumatized him. However, Blue Cross has refused to pay his salary, arguing that his getting charged with a criminal offense invalidated his coverage.
He countered, saying that he did not break the law and he hasn’t been found guilty. He is still awaiting trial for attempting to fly under the influence, and is presumed innocent by law.
Perreault has filed a lawsuit against Blue Cross. The insurance company has yet to file a defense in response.
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