The organizer of a controversial party flight to Mexico says his group was unfairly abandoned by the airlines. James Awad told reporters at a news conference yesterday that Sunwing, who flew them down but passed on the return flight, and Air Canada and Air Transat, who also declined to fly them back to Canada, based on videos of the flight that circulated on social media, should all be “ashamed” of themselves. Right!

He says the airlines stranded 154 Canadians in Mexico without knowing whether members of the group could afford to keep paying for hotels and food.

Perhaps the poor darling group members should have thought of that before their puerile misbehaviour – but ‘thought’ … perhaps we expect too much.

Awad, 28, who is clearly impressed by his own … whatever … held a news conference with the flags of Canada, Quebec and the United States behind him (one has to ask why Mexico was spared), and interspersed his answers with promotional commentaries about his business.

Demonstrating his media expertise and clearly intent on ingratiating himself with the news media, journalists were told they could each ask one question and would be removed if they attempted to ask a followup. You go Jimmy!

The Dec. 30 flight to Cancun drew condemnation after videos of the on-board party showed unmasked passengers in close proximity singing and dancing in the aisle and on seats, as some clutched bottles of liquor, snapped selfies and vaped.

We can only agree with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who aptly described the group at the time as “idiots” and barbarians.

Transport Canada has launched an investigation into the flight.

And speaking of idiots and barbarians … and punishment …

A Canadian man has been sentenced to six months in US federal prison for groping an American Airlines flight attendant.

Enio Socorro Zayas, 50, was sentenced Monday in Miami federal court, according to court records. He pleaded guilty to assault in October.

According to a criminal complaint, Zayas was traveling on an American Airlines flight from Cancun, Mexico, to Miami International Airport in August when a flight attendant serving refreshments left snacks on Zayas’ lap because she believed he was asleep. (Bit odd that, though). Anyway, Zayas then reached around his side, intentionally grabbed the woman on the back of the leg and moved his hand up to her buttocks, all without the flight attendant’s consent, investigators said.

After arriving in Miami, the flight attendant reported her encounter with Zayas, and several passengers corroborated her story, officials said.

Charming…