CBC Ottawa's most-read stories of 2019

Here are CBC Ottawa's 10 most-read stories from 2019,in chronological order:

'Abandoned' in Mexico

The first story happened the first weekend of January, far from the snowy capital.

After sitting on the tarmac for hours, vacationerson a WestJet flight returning toOttawa from Mexico weredropped off at a hotel that wasn't expecting them. They told CBCthey felt "abandoned" in an unfamiliar country.

Passenger describes being 'abandoned' by WestJet

6 years ago

Duration 0:30

Luc Gervais was among those who scrambled to find accommodation in an unfamiliar part of Cancun after his WestJet flight was delayed and then cancelled.

Admittingit had failed its passengers, the airlinerefunded their fare, paid for any extra expenses and gave them a $500 travel credit.

Tragedy at Westboro station

Minutes after adouble-decker OC Transpo bus taking commuters home toKanata smashed into a shelter overhang at Westboro station, thiswas the breaking news story that appeared on our website.

• 3 dead in bus crash at Ottawa transit station

The Jan. 11 crashkilled public servantsJudy Booth, 57,Bruce Thomlinson, 56, andAnja van Beek, 65. Many more passengers were scarred for life.

Driver Aissatou Diallo faces35 charges ofdangerous driving causing bodily harm and three charges of dangerous driving causing death.Her trial is expected to begin in March 2021.

As we near the first anniversary of the tragedy, the city is also facing several million dollars' worth of lawsuits.

Police suicide

AnOntario Provincial Police constable stationed at theKanata detachment in Ottawa's west end killed himself in late March.His name has not been publicly released.

• Another OPP officer dies by suicide

Since then, there have been reviews of police mental health in Ontario and beyond, including an expert report put together by Ontario's chief coroner that said officersneed better resources.

If you feel you need help, you can contact theAssociation qubcoise de prvention du suicide at1-866-APPELLE (1-866-277-3553) or Ottawa Suicide Prevention at613-238-3311.

Lowertown ghost hotel

Jason Yung moved from Ottawa toNew York City for school, and in January found someone to rent his ByWard Market condo.

When that tenantquickly posted the unit on Airbnb and guests started churning through, there wasnothing Yung could initially dostop him.

• 'These guys are predators': Condo owner says home turned into Airbnb 'ghost hotel'

In an update earlier this month, Yung said he'd managed to evict histenant in October after a few different legal attempts, and thensold the condo.

The City of Ottawa approved new Airbnb rules at the end of November that would require short-term rental hosts to have revokable permits, but they won't take hold until late 2020 because the specific bylaws still need to be drawn up and passed.

Fictional president vs. real Premier

Around the end of May, Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod and Premier Doug Ford suggestedthat former Saskatchewan premier Tommy Douglas,recognized as the father of universal health care in Canada, would have approved of Ontario Progressive Conservatives'moves toward fiscal discipline.

Douglas' famous grandson disagreed.

The star of the showDesignated Survivorhas not tweeted about Ontario provincial politics since, focusing most of his posts on his music career.

Hydro hike

This year Hydro One changed how it bills cottagers and other seasonal customers.

The utility said in the summer that rates would go up for more than half of these customers.

A visit to Christie Lake near Perth, Ont., in August offered a snapshot of how upset that made some people.

Rick Chiarelli

More women came forward with allegations of inappropriate behaviour against longtime Ottawa city councillor Rick Chiarelliin the days after CBC first reported on the matterin mid-September.

To date, 12 women have told CBC he acted inappropriately at work or during job interviews.

Chiarelli has denied all allegations and has said he is challenging the authority of the city's integrity commissioner to investigate them.

'He asked me if I've ever done stripping'

5 years ago

Duration 1:21

One woman who interviewed for a job with Coun. Rick Chiarelli says he asked her inappropriate personal questions that made her feel uncomfortable.

On Dec. 13, Chiarelli's office said he was in the hospital to get quadruple bypass heart surgery.

Resort attack

Here's another story that caught on that happened well outsideour region.

Ottawa's LexieYork said she was attacked in her Mexican resort room in mid-November by a man she'dmet earlier in the day.

She required hours of surgery on her face, and when she spoke to CBC more than a week later, she still couldn't see properly.

Mexican authorities have chargeda man they call "Ricardo N."with attempted murder and aggravated assault.

Her brother said in mid-December she's expecting more surgery on her jaw and one of her eyes.

Plane crash fallout

This was the story the day after the crash in northwestern Kingston, Ont., that killed a family of five from Texas and two friends from the Toronto area.

We've since found out the names and ages of all the victims:

• Otabek Oblokulov, 37, and his wife ZamiraBoboeva, 36.
• Their children Muhammadali, 14, Jasmine, 10, and five-year-old Ilyas.
• Bobomurod Nabiev, the pilot's 28-year-old brother-in-law, and his wifeSabina Usmanova, 27.

The Transportation Safety Board is investigating.

It's too soon to know when they may release their findings, but it's likely a matter of months, not weeks.

SIN scam

In late November,Julia-Shea Baker got a call from a man who claimed to be an RCMP officer.

The man said a car rented under her name had been found in Toronto with blood and drugs inside.

He sent the panicking 23-year-old off to drive around her hometown of Cornwall, Ont., to buygift cards to protect her savings,and told her to sharethe numbers and codes with him.

Anatomy of a scam: Listen to a victim describe how she lost $4,000

5 years ago

Duration 4:40

Julia-Shea Baker describes how she fell victim to a common scam and why the story the scammers told her seemed to make sense at the time.

The ordeal cost her $4,000, and when she followed up with local police the next day, she realized she'd been had.

• Cornwall, Ont., woman loses life savings to terrifying 'SIN scam'

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre later shared tips with CBC Ottawaon how to spot and avoid this increasingly populartype of scam, as well as a few othersto watch out for over the holidays.