Airline suspects alcohol was factor in passenger's death

Aeroflot passenger drank heavily on flight, witnesses say May 02, 2008 04:30 AM Tracy Huffman Staff Reporter Authorities are still unsure why a 41-year-old passenger died aboard a Toronto-bound Aeroflot Russian Airlines flight Wednesday, but airline officials believe alcohol may have been a factor. About an hour before the plane was to land at Pearson airport, the Russian man collapsed. Despite resuscitation efforts, the man was pronounced dead after the plane landed around 5:30 p.m. The man, who was travelling alone and whose name has not been released, was reportedly drinking heavily on the flight from Moscow, becoming unruly and annoying some of the other 180 passengers. "Until the investigation by appropriate authorities is complete, we can only assume that alcohol might have been a factor in his tragic demise," Capt. Boris Mazurov said in a statement prepared by the airline yesterday. Witnesses also said the man had been involved in a dispute. Greater Toronto Airports Authority spokesperson Scott Armstrong said Peel police interviewed everyone who had been on board and are now awaiting autopsy results.