Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Aug 14/00) - It seemed like the perfect summer plan.

Nine-year old Crystal Milortok would fly from Repulse Bay to Iqaluit to spend some quality time with Deborah Tagornak, her biological mother.

The pair made a lot of plans and their excitement grew as the day got closer. The renewal of their relationship and the actual greeting at the airport was important to both of them.

Moments before the plane was boarded, a Kivalliq Air employee changed the Milortok's travel schedule, failing to notify her parents until the plane had left the ground.

"I received a call from Crystal's father that she's on the flight going to Cambridge Bay," said Tagornak, still upset by the ordeal. "He said the flight was rearranged."

When Tagornak booked the trip with her travel agent, the itinerary for the $1,300 ticket took Milortok from Repulse Bay to Kugaaruk (Pelly Bay), on to Taloyoak, Gjoa Haven, Baker Lake and Rankin Inlet. Once in Rankin Inlet, Milortok was to connect with the Canadian North jet to fly into Iqaluit.

Because Milortok was put onto a plane with a different flight path, she wasn't able to make the connecting flight to the capital.

Airline admits fault

Tagornak said after Milortok's father phoned her, she spent the next four and a half hours trying to find a solution. One of the calls she made was to Kivalliq Air's manager of operations, Cory Wilson.

"He gave me all these excuses," said Tagornak. "He should have consulted me before doing anything like that."

Based in Winnipeg, Wilson admitted the airline was completely at fault, but said they were unsure of how such a glitch was able to happen at all. He added that the airline was looking into it to ensure similar occurrences were prevented.

"This was a very rare type of thing," said Wilson.

"It was an honest mistake made on our part, but in talking to Canadian North, we were able to get them to hold their flight and we were able to get the little girl to Iqaluit. We did everything we could and we got her on that flight."

Wilson said it could have been a mix up somewhere along the line with the itinerary, or the recent addition of a second flight out of Repulse Bay could have caused the error.

"This is the first and last time that will happen," he said.

While the problem was solved, Tagornak said she was still upset that the airline made the change without telling her.

"I panicked. Kivalliq Air didn't tell me they made changes to their schedule and they have to, especially when it's for a nine-year old," she said.

She said she was particularly horrified because Kivalliq Air told her that her child would have to look after her own food and lodgings for two days until she could catch the next plane east.

"I called the RCMP and asked them what alternatives I had to have Crystal looked after in Rankin Inlet. They gave me the RCMP and Social Services numbers in case that should happen," said Tagornak.

Looking over at her daughter, Tagornak said she was happy the reunion was able to take place when it was scheduled to and she expressed her gratitude to Canadian North for holding the jet. She also said she was glad the ordeal was over.

"It was a nightmare. I wouldn't want any other person to go through what I did."