Two passengers in Canada have been fined $1,000 each for refusing to follow the direction from the aircrew to wear their face masks during flights earlier this summer.

This is the first time that Transport Canada has issued fines to passengers refusing to don masks.

Both incidents took place on WestJet flights in Calgary.

 The first incident occurred on June 14 on a flight from Calgary to Waterloo, Ontario.

The second incident occurred on July 7 on a flight from Vancouver to Calgary.

.@Transport_gc fines two individuals for failing to follow direction from the flight crew to wear face coverings during flight. #BringItAndWearIt https://t.co/prjE41tmIZ

— GC Newsroom (@NewsroomGC) September 4, 2020

"In both incidents, the individuals were directed repeatedly by the air crew to wear their face coverings during the flights and in both cases, the individuals refused," the press release says.

Transport Canada reminds passengers that they're required to wear their face coverings while boarding the plane, while on the plane, and while disembarking the plane.

Face masks can only be removed to eat, drink or take oral medication.